Hanabusa Opposes 40th Attack on the Affordable Care Act

Statement

U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01) voted against H.R. 2009, a bill that prohibits the Treasury Secretary, or any delegate of the Secretary -- including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) -- from implementing or enforcing any provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This marks House Republicans' 40th attempt at repealing or weakening the health care law.

"Despite the successes of the Affordable Care Act, the growing number of Americans who are benefitting from its provisions, and the Supreme Court's ruling that the law is constitutional, the House Republican leadership still chose to waste our time and taxpayer money on another unnecessary vote to undermine this landmark legislation," said Hanabusa. "They have put their anti-Obamacare goals ahead of the physical and economic wellbeing of Americans.

"This bill, by prohibiting the IRS from making or enforcing rules on premium tax credits would cause millions of middle class American families to be stripped of access to affordable care, and would cause financial losses for the thousands of small businesses that are already providing health care to their employees through the small business tax credits.

"We have countless other important issues to consider, and with the little time left before we recess, the GOP Leadership should instead be finishing work on a budget that replaces the sequester and sends a strong signal of certainty to the American people and the markets."

H.R. 2009 passed by a vote of 232-185 and now heads to the Senate.

Source