CRAMER: HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL OBAMACARE AND DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the U.S. House of Representatives agreed to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015. The bill repeals the health exchange subsidies and the Medicaid expansion included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), repeals the "Obamacare slush fund," eliminates federal funding for Planned Parenthood, repeals the individual and employer mandate penalties, repeals the medical device and "Cadillac" tax, and enhances Medicare solvency. The legislation now goes directly to the President for his signature or veto.

"Obamacare has been an absolute failure," said Cramer. "It has driven up the cost of health care and insurance premiums for millions of Americans and their families. The fact is for the first time in many years both the House and Senate were able to pass a budget which provides us with the unique opportunity to use the budget reconciliation process to approve legislation repealing Obamacare. It is now on the President to admit Obamacare has failed and set aside partisan politics, sign this bill, and commit to working with Congress to create solutions which will actually make our healthcare system best respond to the needs of all Americans."

In addition to dismantling Obamacare, the bill diverts funds from abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood to a broader network of healthcare providers throughout the country. "The federal government's funding of Planned Parenthood prevents resources from reaching many Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) who serve low income women in rural and urban communities throughout the nation. North Dakota has 71 FQHC facilities which would be now have the funding to treat thousands of women. This process would be replicated in every state in the country."

Cramer spoke about the need to defund Planned Parenthood and utilize those resources to increase women's health care funding and access through FQHC's facilities earlier this year.

H.R. 3762 passed both houses using the budget reconciliation process. It allows Congress once a year to use an expedited procedure when considering legislation to bring existing spending and revenue into compliance with current fiscal priorities established in the annual budget resolution without a filibuster in the Senate. The adoption of the budget resolution allows Congress to agree upon budgetary goals. In order to meet these goals, Congress must enact legislation that alters or reconciles existing law with its priorities provided in the budget resolution. This is the first time in a decade the reconciliation process has been used because both the House and Senate passed a budget this year.

Summary of H.R. 3762, Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015

Dismantles Obamacare

* Eliminates the Individual Mandate penalty tax effective retroactively January 1, 2015

* Eliminates the Employer Mandate penalty tax effective retroactively January 1, 2015

* The premium assistance tax credit and cost sharing subsidies are repealed beginning in 2018

* The Medicaid expansion provisions are repealed beginning in 2018

* Repeals all Obamacare taxes including:

* 40 percent Excise Tax on High Cost Health Plans (so-called Cadillac Tax)

* Medical Device Tax

* Health insurance Tax

* 0.9 percent payroll tax on wages and self-income and the 3.8 percent tax on dividends, capital gains and other investment income

* Prohibition on using FSA or HSA funds to purchase over-the counter (OTC) medications

* Indoor tanning tax

* Annual fee on manufacturers and importers of brand name prescription drugs

* Repeals the Prevention and Public Health Fund (Obamacare Slush Fund)

* Repeals the transitional reinsurance program

Defends Life

* Provides for a one-year moratorium on all federal mandatory funding to nonprofit providers of elective abortion services that receive more than $350 million in federal funding, including Planned Parenthood.

Invests in Women's Healthcare

* The bill authorizes and appropriates $235,000,000 for the community health center program in each FY 2016 and FY 2017.

* Awards grants to states to address substance abuse or to respond to urgent mental health needs.

Protects Taxpayers

* According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), repealing major provisions of Obamacare in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3762, would result in more than $1.3 trillion in savings.

* The repeal of the Obamacare taxes and mandate penalties would cost $833 billion.

* Therefore, H.R. 3762 would reduce the deficit by $516 billion over the 2016-2025 period, including macroeconomic feedback.

Read this original document at: http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacare-and-defund-planned-parenthood