House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Labor Issues

Health Care

The rising cost of health care is the number one problem facing millions of American families and small business in this country, and it's a major factor in the number of uninsured or underinsured Americans.  Estimates indicate 60 percent or more of the working uninsured work for or depend on small employers who lack the ability to provide health benefits for their workers.  All Americans should have affordable health care coverage options, and Republicans are committed to creating affordable options to help working families get the health care they need and deserve.

In short, Republicans are promoting commonsense reforms that will make health care more affordable, reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and increase quality at a price our country can afford -- all, while making sure Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it.  The Republican principles for health care reform are designed to:

• Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions.
• Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: a) eliminate the health care coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job; b) limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options; and c) result in the federal government taking control of your health care.
• Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs.
• Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats.
• Improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases.

Press Releases

Health Care Solutions Group Examines True Cost of Health Care Law for Families and Employers (May 27, 2010)

Kline Highlights New Venue for Americans to Speak Out on Education and Workplace Issues (May 25, 2010)

Labor Committee Republicans Call for Hearing with CMS Actuary on Health Care Costs (April 28, 2010)

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Member Views

Kline op-ed in The Hill: How to get reform now (October 7, 2009)

Kline op-ed at Townhall.com: Democrats' Health Care "Reform": The Next Job Killer (July 10, 2009)

Health Care & the Democrats’ Fuzzy Math:
Spend More to Save? (June 8, 2009)

Fact Sheets

A Trillion Dollar Job Killer is Not What the Doctor Ordered (March 25, 2010)

House Democrats Paint New Targets on Small Businesses (December 16, 2009)

Republican Prescription for Health Care Reform (December 16, 2009)

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Dear Colleagues

Two Reasons Why NOT to use DSM for Coverage Purposes (March 5, 2008)

Employers Favor a Responsible Mental Health Parity Bill (March 5, 2008)

On the Minimum Wage, There IS a Better Way (January 9, 2007)

Left Turns

Another Day, Another Report of Rising Costs Under ObamaCare (June 30, 2010)

ObamaCare: “Historic” Record of Broken Promises (June 23, 2010)

Culture of Union Favoritism Protects Big Labor From Obama’s Latest Broken Health Care Promise (June 14, 2010)

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Floor Statements

Kline Statement: Consideration of Senate Amendments to H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (March 25, 2010)

Kline Statement: Consideration of Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (March 21, 2010)

Kline Statement: Consideration of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (November 7, 2009)

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Committee Statements

Kline Statement: Hearing with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on “Strengthening the Economy and Improving the Lives of American Workers” (February 3, 2010)

Kline Statement: Republican Forum on “A Culture of Favoritism: The Obama Administration’s Labor Agenda” (January 21, 2010)

Kline Statement: Hearing on Protecting Employees, Employers and the Public: H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies (November 17, 2009)

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