[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF OBAMACARE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOC HASTINGS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
the serious state of health care in our country as we approach the 
second anniversary of ObamaCare.
  When ObamaCare was drafted behind closed doors without bipartisan 
input and slammed through the legislative process in 2010, President 
Obama and Nancy Pelosi promised us that this government takeover of 
health care would allow people who like the health care plan they have 
now to keep it.
  But I and my Republican colleagues knew better when we voted against 
the bill--and we were right. In the two years since ObamaCare was 
signed into law, Americans have already experienced significant 
increases in premiums, loss of choice in medical coverage, and less 
access for seniors to obtain quality health care.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, a recent report by the Congressional Budget 
Office stated that as many as 20 million Americans could lose their 
employer-provided health care coverage as a result of ObamaCare--half 
of who are low-wage workers whom depend on their employer health 
coverage. Even the Department of Health and Human Services admitted 
that portions of the President's health care law, which were originally 
projected to lower costs, would in fact increase taxes on hardworking 
American taxpayers.
  Americans deserve access to the quality health care they need when 
they need it and at a cost they can afford. Improvements must be made, 
but reforms need to focus on putting patients first and lowering costs. 
Lowering costs for hardworking American taxpayers can be achieved by 
expanding health care choices and tools to help families save, making 
it easier for small businesses to afford to offer care, ending lawsuit 
abuse, and protecting the doctor-patient relationship from government 
intrusion.
  After several years of uncertainty and stagnant economic conditions, 
the American people need real solutions and real results. This cannot 
be achieved by budget tricks or accounting gimmicks that do nothing to 
help hardworking American taxpayers and only result in higher taxes and 
burdensome federal government mandates.
  Efficient, effective government that spends less and serves better is 
the only answer to restoring genuine accountability and faith in our 
government. The House of Representatives has voted 25 times to repeal, 
defund or dismantle this law. It is my hope that before the next 
anniversary of ObamaCare, the Senate and President will join the House 
to repeal this trillion-dollar government takeover of health care and 
work on real reforms that lower costs for the American people.

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