[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11581-11582]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        THE REPEAL OF OBAMACARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Conaway) for 5 minutes.

[[Page 11582]]


  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago, the Democrats told the 
American people that Congress had to pass the ObamaCare act so that we 
could learn what was in it. Well, 3 years later, we are just now 
learning what really is in the law and how it will cost American jobs 
and limit their health care choices.
  It is no surprise to me that the administration has delayed the 
implementation of the employer mandate. Just as every honest observer 
said it would, ObamaCare is costing Americans full-time jobs and hourly 
wages as employers prepare to comply with the new mandates spawned by 
this law.
  Later today, the House of Representatives will vote to delay imposing 
ObamaCare's crushing burdens on employers. For once, we agree with the 
President--this law cannot be implemented without significantly harming 
our economy. We will also go one step further and delay these same 
burdens from falling on the backs of individuals as well. I don't 
believe it is appropriate to protect one half of America from ObamaCare 
but not the other half. We will give American families the same 
reprieve from this law that the Obama administration is promising to 
employers.
  The two votes we are taking today are important steps toward repeal. 
All of the regulations required by this law are still not written. With 
every day that passes, a new regulation is announced, revealing just a 
little more of what this bill will actually do. Each rule and 
regulation mandates new costs for employers, more restrictions for the 
insureds, and ultimately hikes the cost of health insurance for 
American families. This law is not ready to be implemented. There are 
too many questions, too many inconsistencies, and too many 
complications. Despite the promises of the Democrat leadership, the 
fact is that we still do not know what's in it.
  Mr. Speaker, my constituents want to see this law repealed. I think 
it is bad policy, bad politics, and terrible for health care in 
America. I have supported every effort to end this law, and I will 
continue to support these efforts as long as I am in office.
  Fundamentally, I do not believe that this law will ever be ready; so 
next year, if the President has not worked with us to delay it or to 
replace it, I will be back to argue for additional delays on both the 
individual mandate and employer mandate. I will continue to demand that 
Congress and the President repeal this law and replace it with one that 
puts patients first, that allows new and innovative paths for care and 
coverage, and that does not put the government between patients and 
their doctors.

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