Rep. Labrador Issues Statement on His Vote for American Health Care Act

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, issued the following statement after voting for the newest version of the American Health Care Act:

"All across Idaho, families and small business owners are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing health care costs caused by Obamacare. The people of Idaho know Obamacare is a disaster and want it fully repealed. Since I was first elected to Congress, I've been working to repeal Obamacare and that includes opposing the first version of the American Health Care Act.

"Over the last few months, I have been working to improve the AHCA, joining with my colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus. We have negotiated legislation that keeps our promise to the American people to lower health care costs while also protecting those with pre-existing conditions. Furthermore, unlike the first version of AHCA, our bill showed it had enough support to actually pass the House.

"The bill we passed today strikes down Obamacare's prohibition on less expensive health care plans and the knot of insurance regulations and mandates that are making health coverage so unaffordable. Meanwhile, it sets up a national $130 billion invisible high-risk pool to help offset the cost for those with pre-existing conditions.

"The Democrats keep insisting the AHCA will eliminate coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. That's not true, and it's not the first time the Democrats haven't told the truth about Obamacare. When they said Obamacare would lower health insurance premiums, it wasn't true. When they said 'if you like your health care plan, you can keep your plan,' it wasn't true. When they said Obamacare would lower out-of-pocket expenses, it wasn't true. If they didn't tell the truth about everything else, why should anyone believe them now about pre-existing conditions?

"Our work is far from done, however. We need to fully repeal Obamacare and I remain committed to doing that. Today's bill is the best way to eventually get there."