Banks says he’ll support new health-care bill, with changes

March 18--After a Friday meeting with President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-3rd, said he would support the "American Health Care Act," the Republican response to the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare. Banks met Trump with other members of the Republican Study Committee.

"I appreciate the President making time to meet with conservatives to hear our concerns about repealing and replacing Obamacare," Banks said in a press release after the meeting.

"During our discussion, President Trump agreed to several significant conservative changes to the American Health Care Act, including Medicaid block grants, work requirements for Medicaid recipients and important pro-life protections. President Trump personally assured me that he is 100% behind this bill and views its passage as a critical priority.

"While this legislation is far from perfect and not the Obamacare replacement plan I had hoped to support, it is a substantial improvement from the mandates, burdens and failures of Obamacare. I committed to President Trump that I would support this plan if it contains the changes we agreed to today. Passing this bill will begin the process of rolling back Obamacare, enacting free market reforms and improving health care for all Americans."

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