Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill that would hurt small businesses in Missouri who are finally gaining access to affordable coverage for their employees. Since 2010, the health care coverage among small firms has increased by more than 12 percent. If this bill passes, those small business owners will lose the tax credits that are providing up to 50 percent of their health care costs. Many of them will have to drop the very health insurance they have just now been able to provide their employees and their families.

These are real people, people like Michelle Barron, who owns an independent book store in Rock Hill, Missouri. She used to be able to afford coverage for her employees, but over the years couldn't keep up. She had to drop her employees and finally drop her own coverage because of preexisting conditions. Last year when the health care bill was signed into law, new options opened up for Michelle and countless small business owners like her.

But if we repeal health care, it will turn back the clock for small business owners like Michelle. Insurers would be able to go back to denying coverage for preexisting medical conditions, and small business owners would lose the tax credits that are helping make health care coverage affordable. We cannot go back to the bad old days of insurance company control. This is not the time to step backwards.

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