Ratcliffe Votes to Repeal Obamacare and Defund Planned Parenthood

Statement

Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) voted Wednesday to send a bill that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood to President Obama's desk for the first time.

The Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act made a leap beyond previous attempts to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood by utilizing a once-a-year opportunity through budget reconciliation to bypass a common procedural block in the Senate and be sent straight to the president. The measure also reduces the federal deficit by $516 billion, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate.

"Dismantling Obamacare has been one of my top priorities since my first day in Congress. This expensive, intrusive law is full of broken promises, and I'm proud to stand up against this failed Washington takeover of healthcare and send this legislation all the way to the Oval Office," Ratcliffe said.

"From the single parent whose premiums doubled, to the small businesses owner who can't afford to hire new employees, there are countless examples from the constituents I represent about just how unaffordable this disastrous law has been."

Ratcliffe also praised the bill's inclusion of language to limit federal funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood.

"As a staunch pro-life advocate, I've always opposed any federal funding of organizations like Planned Parenthood that perform abortions," Ratcliffe said.

"To protect the rights of the unborn, I'm grateful that we've pushed legislation one step closer toward defunding Planned Parenthood once and for all."

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