[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  RESTORING AMERICANS' HEALTHCARE FREEDOM RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2015--
          VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2016

  Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound 
disappointment in President Obama's recent decision to veto H.R. 3762, 
the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015. 
It is important to be clear and stand with my constituents in voting to 
override the President's veto of legislation that is a story of broken 
promises by President Obama and the Democrats who voted in favor of 
this legislation.
  I want to spend a few minutes describing just a few of the promises 
made during consideration of Obamacare which have sadly failed to come 
to fruition. First, Mr. Speaker, President Obama repeatedly told the 
American people that ``If you like your health care plan, you'll be 
able to keep it''. Sadly, in reality, it couldn't be further from the 
truth. More than 4.7 million people received cancellation notices in 
the fall of 2013, right before Obamacare went into effect. Politifact, 
no friend to conservatives, even went as far as labeling the 
President's promise the ``Lie of the Year.''
  Secondly, while Obamacare promised lower healthcare costs and lower 
premiums, this couldn't be further from the truth. First, on lower 
healthcare costs, according to CMS' own actuaries, overall spending on 
healthcare is expected to rise by $621 billion over 10 years due to the 
law, at an average of 5.8% per year. That's more than double our 
projected GDP growth, and a higher rate than before Obamacare. The 
story on premiums is no better. While President Obama promised lower 
premiums, as John Adams stated, ``facts are stubborn things''. The 
facts are that the average premium for a family plan has increased by 
$18,610 from 2009-2013, and the overall cost of premium increases have 
been over $1.2 trillion.
  Third, Mr. Speaker, Obamacare promised more choice, more competition, 
and lower costs. Well, unfortunately, that is just not the case in 
Oklahoma, like many other states across the country. In fact, fewer 
insurers offer fewer options at higher prices than when Obamacare was 
passed, over my objections. Obamacare is not the answer and the 
American people know that.
  Instead, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to co-sponsor the American Health 
Care Reform Act of 2015 (AHCA), which I support as an alternative to a 
government-managed health care law. This legislation would provide a 
number of market-driven solutions to ensure everyone seeking coverage 
will be able to obtain it. First, it expands federal support for state 
high risk pools. Unlike Obamacare, which created an already 
oversubscribed Federal high risk pool, AHCA returns those concerns to 
the states, provides the necessary funding to sustain them, and caps 
the premiums in those plans. Additionally, AHCA tax incentives to 
equalize the treatment of employer-sponsored coverage and those 
purchased in the private market. In addition to ensuring healthy 
competition across the market place, it also ensures that if one loses 
their job, they do not necessarily have to lose their health insurance. 
Third, AHCA would provide real competition among insurers, by allowing 
Americans to purchase health insurance products across state lines and 
by permitting small businesses to pool together to negotiate better 
rates. AHCA is the type of legislation needed to replace a bloated, 
government-run healthcare system which has left a trail of broken 
promises in its wake.
  I am pleased to vote to override the President's veto of H.R. 3762. 
While I know this vote will not be successful, I am pleased that the 
President has finally had to confront the issues that the American 
people have with his signature piece of legislation, the so-called 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Unfortunately, Obamacare is 
none of these things. I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of 
overriding the President's veto.

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