January 06,2016

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Aaron Fobes, Julia Lawless (202)224-4515

Hatch Applauds House Action on Bill to Repeal Obamacare

Utah Senator Says, “Congress let the will of the American people be heard and sent an Obamacare repeal bill to the President’s desk. Higher premiums, higher taxes, less opportunity and diminished access to care is not what this administration promised and is exactly why Americans continue to oppose this law.”

SALT LAKE CITY –Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today issued the following statement after legislation repealing Obamacare through the budget reconciliation process cleared Congress and was sent to the President to be signed into law:

“Today, Congress let the will of the American people be heard and sent an Obamacare repeal bill to the President’s desk. Higher premiums, higher taxes, less opportunity and diminished access to care is not what this administration promised and is exactly why Americans continue to oppose this law.  With this legislation, the President has a real opportunity to finally put an end to the flawed policies that have crippled household budgets and limited patient access to quality care and instead work with Republicans to implement patient-centered reforms to effectively address rising costs and increase choice for more Americans.”

Background:
Last month, the Senate passed an Obamacare repeal bill using the budget reconciliation process. The House passed the measure today, clearing it to be signed into law.


Hatch, a long-time opponent of the President’s health law, successfully fought to have some of the most egregious parts of Obamacare delayed last year. Hatch’s bill, which included a provision to suspend Obamacare’s 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices through 2017, was signed into law in December. He also worked with his colleagues in Congress to enact a year-end package that delays the 40 percent excise tax on high cost insurance plans, known at the “Cadillac tax” until 2020 and provides a moratorium on the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) for 2017.

Hatch is also the coauthor of the Patient CARE Act, a legislative plan that repeals Obamacare and replaces it with cost-addressing measures, with Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Fred Upton.

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