Repeal of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 45, the legislation that will repeal the President's job-destroying health care law, and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation is mired in a jobs crisis, and the President's health care law is making it worse. Since ObamaCare was first enacted in 2010, Federal bureaucrats have written nearly 20,000 pages of new regulations--20,000 pages.

Colleagues on the other side of the aisle have talked about how many times we've tried to get rid of this menace and what's changed. Well, as we know, very famously, we had to pass the bill to find out what was in it, but even then we didn't know what was in it. We're now at 20,000 pages of regulations and still counting.

Meanwhile, America's job creators are struggling to manage the full effects of the law in their workplaces.

Ed Tubel has owned and operated Sonny's Real Pit Barbecue for more than 30 years. At a recent hearing in North Carolina, Mr. Tubel outlined the difficult choices he now faces, including higher prices for customers and fewer hours for workers. Brett Parker, vice chairman of Bowlmor Lanes of New York, testified in 2011 that his business may also have to shift workers to part-time hours in order to ``protect existing jobs.''

As chief human resources officer with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Tina Haynes stated the college must consider cutting the number of courses offered to students. She also described the health care law as a ``massive administrative burden that comes with unanticipated costs.'' And Gail Johnson, president and CEO of an early childhood learning center, warned in 2011 that ObamaCare would ``force entrepreneurs to invest less into growing their business'' and slow the growth of small businesses.

These men and women live each day with the consequences of the health care law. No doubt, others across the country have similar stories to tell. There are a number of good reasons why Congress should repeal the government takeover of health care. It is driving up the cost of care, and millions will lose the health care coverage they have and like. Yes, Mr. Speaker, if you like your coverage, you may not be able to keep it. According to CBO, at least 7 million people fall into that trap.

But for many Americans, one reason stands above the rest: jobs. Our Nation's workers and employers cannot afford the Democrats' job-destroying health care law. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 45.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Roe, and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

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