Walker Holds Press Conference To Announce RSC Plan To Repeal And Replace Obamacare

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mark Walker (R-N.C.) today spoke at a press conference to introduce the Republican Study Committee's plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. The bill, the American Health Care Reform Act of 2017 (AHCRA), is sponsored by U.S. Representative Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and was introduced today in the House.

"The most impressive, and the most popular alternative health care legislation, both in the 113th and the 114th Congress, is Dr. Phil Roe's American Health Care Reform Act," Walker said. "Dr. Phil Roe is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to restore sanity to health care, and change the focus of our system away from bureaucratic mandates to compassionate care for patients by trusted doctors - paid for in a responsible way."

Walker also spoke on the broken promises and damages Obamacare has caused.

"Can we imagine or can we think of another piece of legislation that has failed more on its promises than Obamacare?," Walker asked. "Millions of people who were promised on multiple occasions they would never lose their insurance, have lower premiums, and could keep their trusted physicians and doctors."

"According to Gallup, nearly 80 percent of all Americans want to change the law significantly or repeal it entirely," he added.

Walker also said spoke as to how he would lead the Republican Study Committee in the 115th Congress.

"Our goal in the RSC (Republican Study Committee) is to be proactive and to fulfill the promises that we have made to the American people," Walker said. "This is round one of a fifteen scheduled round fight. Basically, as the conservative caucus in the House, our job is to bat lead-off."

A two-page summary of the American Health Care Reform Act of 2017 can be found here http://rsc.walker.house.gov/files/Initiatives/AHCRA%20-%20Two%20Pager%20115th%20Congress.pdf and above. Watch Rep. Walker's remarks here or read them in full below:

"Good afternoon and thank you for coming out today. As Americans, we pride ourselves in the freedom we have to make our own decisions. Obamacare, for all the talk of collapsing markets and soaring premiums, it has stripped individuals across this country of the most important decision that we may ever face, and that is the decisions regarding our own health care. You see this is another area in our lives, where bureaucrats have tried to convince the American people that the federal government knows better how to run our lives. Can we imagine or can we think of another piece of legislation that has failed more on its promises than Obamacare?

"Millions, yes millions, of people have been kicked off their coverage. Millions of people who were promised on multiple occasions they would never lose their insurance, have lower premiums, and could keep their trusted physicians and doctors.

"A couple of statistics today as we get started today that I want us to remember: Close to 75 percent of state run co-ops have completely collapsed. Now, what does this mean? Over 800,000 people were forced to find new coverage in a very difficult time. According to Gallup, nearly 80 percent of all Americans want to change the law significantly or repeal it entirely. As we saw recently, that 80 percent now includes a Democratic Governor and a former Democratic President who have heard the countless horror stories of small businesses and individuals alike.

"Just earlier today, President Obama shows up for the first time since lobbying the Iranian debacle in efforts to provide another arena that is equally as bad. Our goal in the RSC (Republican Study Committee) is to be proactive and to fulfill the promises that we have made to the American people. We look forward to working with leadership and this Administration in finding solutions that provide opportunities for all of our communities. This is round one of a fifteen scheduled round fight. Basically, as the conservative caucus in the House, our job is to bat lead-off.

"Now the most impressive, and the most popular alternative health care legislation, both in the 113th and the 114th Congress, is Dr. Phil Roe's American Health Care Reform Act. Who better to start this process than a physician, who ran a successful medical practice career, who employed hundreds of medical professionals, and met and dealt and provided health care to thousands of patients. Dr. Phil Roe is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to restore sanity to health care, and change the focus of our system away from bureaucratic mandates to compassionate care for patients by trusted doctors - paid for in a responsible way. Dr. Roe."

Read this original document at: https://walker.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walker-holds-press-conference-announce-rsc-plan-repeal-and-replace