Rokita Leads Passage of Reconciliation Bill That Repeals Obamacare, Defunds Planned Parenthood, and Answers the President's Call to End Gun Violence

Press Release

Representative Todd Rokita (IN-04), Vice-Chairman of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement after the House voted to send H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, to the President:

"Today's vote would end one of the biggest lies President Obama has ever told to the American people, "if you like your health care plan, you can keep it.' Sending this reconciliation bill, which repeals the most egregious parts of ObamaCare, to the President's desk, is a true step forward in the effort to end government-controlled healthcare. Government-run healthcare, like most things done by the government, does more harm than good to Indiana families. I am proud to continue fulfilling my commitment to Hoosiers that I will do everything in my power to repeal ObamaCare," said Rokita.

H.R. 3762 also provides for a one-year moratorium on all federal mandatory funding to nonprofit providers of elective abortion services, including Planned Parenthood.

"I believe that all lives are sacred, and no federal funds should go to organizations that have such a callous disregard for human life. This reconciliation bill mirrors my belief. It ends taxpayer funding to groups like Planned Parenthood that spend every waking hour focused on the destruction of the lives of our most vulnerable."

The bill also answers the President's call for action on gun control by providing new funding for mental health programs.

"Aside from righting the wrong which is ObamaCare, the President should take this opportunity to act on his tearful rhetoric from yesterday by signing into law the new mental healthcare funding included in this bill," said Rokita.

Last year, Representative Rokita served on the Congressional negotiating team that established a budget conference agreement. That budget served as the blueprint for today's reconciliation bill. H.R. 3762 first passed the House on October 23, 2015. After consultation with the Senate Parliamentarian, an amended bill passed the Senate on December 3, 2015. In the Senate, a reconciliation bill is filibuster-proof, requiring only a simple majority (51 votes) to pass. Additionally, the bill was subject to the Senate's "Byrd Rule," which prohibits extraneous provisions that have no budgetary effects. H.R. 3762 now heads to the President after passing in the House 240 to 181.

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