Post by bot on Jan 16, 2014 15:33:07 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Vote to Undermine the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 3362, Republicans' 48th vote to undermine or repeal the Affordable Care Act:
“I am very disappointed that the Republican Majority has chosen today to hold the 48th vote to undermine or repeal the Affordable Care Act, especially while continuing to ignore a long list of legislative items dealing with our immediate challenges. The bill Republicans put forward today would introduce burdensome and unnecessary reporting requirements that are aimed solely at hampering the implementation of health care reform – not protecting consumers. The Department of Health and Human Services already releases enrollment data each month, like it does for Medicare, CHIP, and other federal programs – just as it did last week when it released a large amount of detailed data showing that 2.2 million Americans have already selected private health plan coverage through the state and federal marketplaces.
“Instead of wasting our time on votes like this one, the House should take up legislation to restore emergency unemployment benefits to more than 1.3 million Americans who lost their jobs. We ought to consider the Fair Minimum Wage Act to help those earning the lowest salaries make ends meet and avoid slipping into poverty, and Congress should schedule Floor debate on comprehensive immigration reform that will bring millions of people out of the shadows and allow them to help build a stronger economy for our country. The list goes on – boosting private sector job growth through Make It In America legislation, fixing the Medicare physician payment formula, passing a farm bill, and averting another default crisis by making sure America pays its bills.
“I urge the Speaker and Majority Leader to set aside ideological votes on the Affordable Care Act, such as the one we just took, and instead work with Democrats to achieve bipartisan results for the American people on the most pressing challenges we face together as a nation.”
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