[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S5215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2259. Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Mr. Vitter) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 22, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt employees with health coverage 
under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration from being taken into 
account for purposes of determining the employers to which the employer 
mandate applies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN CONGRESSIONAL 
                   MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 1312(d)(3)(D) of 
     the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 
     18032(d)(3)(D)), Members of Congress, the President, Vice 
     President, and all other political appointees shall purchase 
     health insurance coverage through a health exchange 
     established under such Act and shall receive no Federal 
     subsidy or contribution to the costs of such coverage that is 
     not also otherwise available to individuals at a similar 
     income level.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress'' 
     shall have the meaning given such term in section 
     1312(d)(3)(D)(ii)(I) of the Patient Protection and Affordable 
     Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18032(d)(3)(D)(ii)(I)).
       (2) Political appointee.--The term ``political appointee'' 
     means any individual who--
       (A) is employed in a position described under sections 5312 
     through 5316 of title 5, United States Code, (relating to the 
     Executive Schedule);
       (B) is a limited term appointee, limited emergency 
     appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive 
     Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), 
     respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5, United States 
     Code;
       (C) is employed in a position in the executive branch of 
     the Government of a confidential or policy-determining 
     character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 
     5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; or
       (D) is employed in or under the Executive Office of the 
     President in a position that is excluded from the competitive 
     service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, 
     policy-making, or policy-advocating character.
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