Reps. Foxx, Walberg Issue Statement on Association Health Plans Expansion

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 -- Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, on the announcement of the Department of Labor's proposed rule on the expansion of association health plans:

"The Committee on Education and the Workforce has led the way to replace Obamacare with fair, workable and high-quality health care coverage options and improve access for working families, small business owners and employees.

"Today's announcement by the Department of Labor shows the Trump administration's continued commitment to our shared goal of delivering free-market and patient-centered solutions that benefit American workers and families."

* * *

Background: The House of Representatives passed the Small Business Health Fairness Act (https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401495) (H.R. 1101) in March of 2017 that would expand health care coverage and lower costs for working families. Introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, and Rep. Tim Walberg, the legislation empowers small businesses to band together though AHPs and negotiate for lower health insurance costs on behalf of their employees. The bill passed by a vote of 236 to 175.

In October of 2017, President Trump signed an executive order (https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402041) to allow small businesses to join together through AHPs.