Rep. Graves, U.S. House sends bill to end Obamacare to President’s desk

Press release

Bill Also Prevents Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood, Cuts Deficit

Washington, Jan 6 – Today, Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) voted for and the House passed the budget reconciliation bill to end Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood and cut the deficit by more than $500 billion. This legislation was already passed by the Senate and will now go to the president. This is the first time legislation to stop Obamacare or defund Planned Parenthood has ever passed both chambers of Congress and been sent to the president.

“By passing this legislation, we’re upholding our promise to put legislation stopping Obamacare on the president’s desk. This is the furthest the repeal effort has ever gone,” said Rep. Graves. “I hope the president thinks about the many Georgians who are suffering under his healthcare law and joins us in stopping its harmful effects – higher premiums, limited choice and the cancellation of millions of health insurance plans. If the president rejects this common sense approach and the will of Congress, this once again proves that we can and will repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood – all we need is a new president who will sign the legislation into law. The fights for health care freedom and the right to life are far from over.”

Specifically, the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, repeals key provisions of Obamacare, including the individual mandate, employer mandate, “Cadillac Tax” and medical device tax. Repealing these crucial mandates and provisions would essentially destroy Obamacare. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that it will reduce the deficit by $516 billion. Additionally, H.R. 3762 places a one year moratorium on federal funding of Planned Parenthood and redirects the funds to community health centers that do not perform abortions.

Although the House passed H.R. 3762 in October, the Senate made several changes to the bill’s language, which required the House to pass the updated version. The bill will now be sent to the president.

H.R. 3762 was passed using the budget reconciliation process, which allows the Senate to bypass the normal 60-vote threshold required to bring legislation to the floor.