The House fulfilled its pledge to the American people by passing H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. While the repeal effort failed in the Democrat controlled Senate, I will continue to fight for patient-centered reform that brings choice and competition to the health care sector.

I am particularly proud of two pieces of pro-life legislation the House passed. We must always be vigilant in protecting the rights of the unborn:

H.R. 3- No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

• Would establish a government-wide, permanent prohibition on federal funding for elective abortions and insurance coverage that includes elective abortions.  The bill would also prohibit federal subsidies for abortion coverage currently allowed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and would prohibit tax-preferred status for abortion through health savings accounts and itemized deductions.

H.R. 358- The Protect Life Act

• Would amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to prevent federal funding of abortion or abortion coverage.  It would also ensure that nothing in PPACA can be construed to require coverage of, or access to, abortion and to ensure that nothing in PPACA allows anyone implementing PPACA to require “coverage of, access to, or training in abortion services.”

Other health care legislation passed by the House include:

H.R. 1213, Repealing the Unlimited HHS Exchange Slush Fund

• Under Obamacare, the Secretary of Health and Human Services was provided with an unlimited tap on the U.S. Treasury for various activities related to government mandated health insurance exchanges. Rather than being subject to annual appropriations, the Secretary is provided a bottomless pot of mandatory funding without the need for any further Congressional approval. 
• H.R. 1213 repeals this slush fund and rescinds any unobligated balances saving $14 billion over ten years, according to CBO. In addition to repealing the cost of grants to establish the exchanges (estimated to cost $1.9 billion between 2012 and 2015), CBO states that the bill will also result in delayed implementation of the law (such as establishment of exchanges and federal spending for insurance coverage) contributing to the amount of overall savings.

H.R. 1214, Repealing the School-Based Health Center Construction Fund

• Under Obamacare, $200 million in mandatory funding was provided through 2014 solely for construction (facilities and equipment) to build and renovate School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs). A similar program, that actually provides care at these facilities, was also authorized in Obamacare for Congress to fund through the regular annual appropriations process (discretionary spending). However, the President’s budget did not request any money for this grant program. Providing funds for construction without funds to staff these clinics and provide health services is an incoherent policy.
• Additionally, between the “stimulus” bill and Obamacare, $3 billion has been made available for facility improvements at Community Health Centers that many SBHCs are eligible for.  Providing additional funding is duplicative and unwarranted and it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to build centers that may never provide care. 
• H.R. 1214 repeals this slush fund and rescinds any unobligated balances saving $100 million.