Lankford Applauds Kansas Approval of Health Care Compact

Press Release

Representative James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement of praise today after Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed state bill H.B. 2553, which allows Kansas to join the Health Care Compact. Rep. Lankford recently introduced H.J. Res 110 in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide the required congressional approval for Member states to enter into the Health Care Compact

"I am happy to see the voices of the people of Kansas raised in support of the Health Care Compact," said Lankford.

"Governor Brownback has now provided Kansans with the welcome opportunity to make their own health care choices, free from federal regulations, high costs and mandates. The beauty of the Health Care Compact proposal is that Kansans can continue to work out the details on how to create a viable health care system to keep the focus on patients, not federal paperwork.

"I applaud Governor Brownback's decision, and I look forward to the next states that choose to take back control of their health care from the federal government," concluded Lankford.

Nine states have joined the Health Care Compact: Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Numerous others have legislation on the table for consideration.

Interstate compacts are governing tools that have been used on more than 200 occasions to establish agreements between and among states. Mentioned in Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution, compacts are constitutional instruments that provide authority and flexibility to the states for administering government programs without federal interference. Congressional consent is required for states to enter into a legally binding compact.

The Health Care Compact does not conflict with efforts by state attorneys general, state legislators or Members of Congress to repeal or modify the President's health care law.

The Health Care Compact transfers health care decision-making authority and responsibility from the federal level to Member states. Member states are then free to implement their chosen health care systems without interference from federal bureaucrats, using federal health care funds already available to the state.

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