Congress Approves Resolution Clearing Way for Obamacare Repeal

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release:

Congress today approved a resolution, S. Con. Res. 3, which clears the way for consideration of legislation that would fast track repeal of Obamacare. The measure was approved earlier this week by the full Senate. Sponsored by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, the resolution will provide the tools necessary to repeal Obamacare through the budget reconciliation process and allow it to pass with a simple majority in both the Senate and the House.

"Congressional approval of this resolution is an important first step in building a bridge from Obamacare's broken promises to better health care for all Americans," said Chairman Enzi. "This resolution will help provide relief from Obamacare that millions of Americans have long demanded, while also ensuring a stable transition in which those with insurance will not lose access to their health care coverage."

The resolution includes:

* Tools to allow repeal legislation to move through a fast-track process and pass with a simple majority in the Senate, as in the House, with the intent of sending legislation to the new President's desk as soon as possible.

* Reconciliation instructions to four authorizing committees - Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce in the House, Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate - to achieve at least $1 billion each in deficit reduction over 10 years (fiscal years 2017 through 2026).

* Deadlines for the authorizing committees to report legislation to the Senate and House Budget Committees by January 27, 2017. The legislation will be combined for consideration on the floors of the respective Chambers.

* Reserve funds necessary to accommodate legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, and accommodate patient-centered health care reform legislation in the future.

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