Rep. Sam Johnson Statement on Committee Passage of Obamacare Repeal and Replace Bill

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, issued the following news release:

Early this morning, the Ways and Means Committee concluded its Markup on five budget reconciliation recommendations that make up part of the American Healthcare Reform Act - the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Once joined with the reconciliation recommendations from the Energy and Commerce Committee, these bills will make up the American Healthcare Reform Act. (To read the full bill, visit readthebill.gop.)

The American Healthcare Reform Act is a reconciliation bill that is the first of three steps to repeal Obamacare and replace it with affordable, patient-centered solutions. (The three-step repeal and replace plan is outlined below.) Notably, the bill repeals the individual and employer mandate; stops the $1 trillion in tax increases that have hurt American families from all walks of life; continues to protect folks with pre-existing conditions; and allows children 26 and under to stay on their parents' health care plan.

"As a conservative who opposed Obamacare at every turn, I'm pleased that - with a Republican in the White House - we are finally able to move forward with a real plan to repeal and replace Obama's disastrous law," said Johnson.

"While I recognize that the Republican bill is not perfect, it's a good and necessary step in the right direction - and my work on this issue won't be done. There are still many conservative solutions that I would like to see put into effect that budget rules prohibit us from including in reconciliation - solutions like the ability to purchase health care plans across state lines as well as the bill I introduced (H.R. 1101) to allow small businesses to join together through association health plans (AHPs). In fact, H.R. 1101 passed the Education and Workforce Committee yesterday!"

Three-step plan to repeal and replace Obamacare:

1) Pass the reconciliation bill - the American Healthcare Reform Act.

2) Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price will have regulatory flexibility to deregulate the marketplace to help lower costs and stabilize the market.

3) Congress will follow up on the reconciliation with further solutions (such as purchasing health care across state lines).

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