Repealing and Replacing Obamacare

Statement

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding passage of the bill:

"Obamacare's failures continue to hurt access to and the affordability of health care for all Americans. This week, insurers in Virginia announced severe market contractions for their Obamacare exchanges, and the last remaining insurer in 94 of 99 Iowa counties announced that they are contemplating leaving the marketplace altogether. In Texas, 70 percent of our counties only have one health care option, and many will lose that option as early as January due to the fatal flaws of Obamacare. Obamacare must be repealed and replaced now to stop the damage that American families and businesses are enduring.

"In Congress, one of my top priorities has always been to repeal and replace Obamacare. My support of the American Health Care Act honors the promise I made to the constituents of the 17th Congressional District. Furthermore, a vote against this bill would have been a vote to keep Obamacare's skyrocketing premiums and reduced coverage options.

"The American Health Care Act delivers immediate relief from Obamacare taxes and mandates while replacing Obamacare's harmful outcomes with provisions that give all Americans freedom of choice, free of government mandates and penalties. It ensures that no one is denied coverage by protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and providing tax credits to help lower income families obtain access to affordable, quality health care -- a long held conservative policy goal. The bill also enacts the largest entitlement reform in decades by modernizing and strengthening Medicaid, and empowers states to tailor health plans for their citizens rather than be subject to the plans of Washington bureaucrats.

"It is imperative that Congress live under the laws that it is passes. That is why the House also unanimously passed a bill to ensure that members of Congress and Congressional staff will have the same coverage provided to Main Street America under the American Health Care Act.

"We still have more work to do, but as of today significant progress has been made to provide relief and to rescue hardworking American families from the failures of Obamacare. I remain committed to seeing the complete repeal of Obamacare and replacing it with a 21st century health care system that is patient-focused, market-driven, competitive and affordable."

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