Hudson: Obamacare Repeal is Real Progress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after Congress passed a bill to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood:

“One message I continue to hear loud and clear is folks are sick of excessive government overreach and Washington’s mandates - most notably, Obamacare. Real people are suffering under this harmful law’s rising health care costs, restricted access, cancelled plans and wasted tax dollars. That’s why I made a promise to fight to repeal Obamacare and work towards patient centered reforms, and today’s bill is real progress.

“In addition, today’s bill places a moratorium on funding for Planned Parenthood to protect the unborn and ensure our tax dollars committed to women’s health are used to give women access to health care - not to abort and traffic babies. President Obama has the opportunity to confront his failing health care law and finally listen to the American people - I can only hope he takes our concerns to heart.”

This is the first Obamacare repeal bill that Congress will send to President Barack Obama since the law’s enactment in 2010. Earlier this year, Congress passed a balanced budget agreement which allows for a reconciliation bill to proceed. This is a budget mechanism that can only be used once every year. In the Senate, such a bill is filibuster proof and requires only a simple majority to pass. In December, the bill passed the Senate by a 52-47 vote and now heads to the president’s desk.

By repealing Obamacare and defunding Planned Parenthood, the Restoring American’s Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act cuts the federal deficit by a half trillion dollars over the next decade.

Among other provisions, the bill: