Today, the House passed H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act, with a bipartisan vote of 248-179. This legislation repeals the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour rule and restores the traditional 40-hour work week. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement in support of the bill:

“I have heard from employees and employers alike about the negative consequences of the employer mandate penalty. Defining a full-time employee as somebody who works 30 hours or more per week is resulting in fewer jobs, reduced hours, and less opportunity for millions of working class Americans.

“At a time when our economy is sluggish and job creation is stagnant, the last thing hardworking Americans, especially women, can afford are reduced hours and less take-home pay. The president’s healthcare law continues to harm the very people it was intended to help. These are our substitute teachers, our younger workers, and our single mothers who are doing everything they can to provide for their families.  These are people who depend on 40 hours per week to live, not 29 hours or possibly less.

“The House acted today to restore wages and reinstate the 40-hour work week to provide certainty and help people bring home more of their paycheck.”   

Items to note:Congresswoman Jenkins lead Floor time today hosted by the Republican Women’s Policy Committee (RWPC) on the Save American Workers Act. To watch the Congresswoman’s opening remarks, click here.

According to a Hoover Institution study, 2.6 million Americans making under $30,000 are at risk of having their hours and wages cut as a result of the Affordable Care Act’s 30-hour rule. Of that: 

• 63 percent are women
• 60 percent are between the ages of 19 and 34
• 90 percent do not have a college degree

# # #