Authority for Mandate Delay Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in opposition to this legislation. The American people are tired of political gimmicks and games. They want to see real efforts to create jobs and grow our economy. This legislation does nothing to advance these goals.

The President has already taken steps to alleviate the burden on small businesses by delaying the employer mandate. This step will ensure small firms have the time, resources, and tools they need to provide coverage to their employees before the mandate kicks in. At best, the legislation before us today is duplicative of that effort. At worst, it amounts to political grandstanding.

Let's be absolutely clear--even if these measures pass the House, we know they will go nowhere in the Senate. If, in some distorted reality, the Senate somehow approves this legislation, it will not be signed into law by the President. So the only real purpose of this bill and the debate is to score cheap political points. Passing this bill will do nothing to help Americans who are struggling to find work, afford rent, or put groceries on the table. Instead, we are bringing up yet another bill to repeal health care reform--the 38th such bill of this Congress--but I forgot: it's the summer, so we're showing reruns.

The Affordable Care Act is already providing valuable benefits to the American people. It was just reported today that New Yorkers will see a 50 percent cut in their insurance premiums thanks to this landmark law. Millions of young adults who are graduating from college can remain on their parents' plans as they enter the job market. Children with life-threatening ailments are no longer denied coverage under preexisting-condition rules. Women are no longer paying more due to discriminatory insurance company practices.

These are the benefits that our Republican colleagues would deny the American people. Vote ``no.'' This debate is over.

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