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McClintock, MacArthur, McSally & Aderholt Welcome Changes to AHCA, Announce Support for the Bill

March 21, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2017

McClintock, MacArthur, McSally, & Aderholt Welcome Changes to AHCA, Announce Support for the Bill

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representatives Tom McClintock (CA-04), Thomas MacArthur (NJ-03), Martha McSally (AZ-02), and Robert Aderholt (AL-04) announced their support of changes to the American Health Care Act of 2017 intended to result in major cost reductions to low-income middle-aged Americans.

Over several weeks the Members worked with House Republican Leadership and Trump Administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and HHS Secretary Tom Price, to advocate adjusting the bill's tax credits to assure that health coverage remains within the reach of lower-income adults. An agreement with House leadership will now incorporate changes necessary to accomplish this goal into the bill.

Representative McClintock said: "The Republican vision of health care reform has always been one in which consumers have the widest possible range of choices and a supportive tax system to assure that a health plan is within the financial reach of every American. The CBO warned that as initially structured, the AHCA fell short of this goal for older low-income workers. My motion to request that additional resources be focused to assure access for this group passed the House Budget Committee on a bipartisan vote, and I am grateful that House leadership worked with my office over the weekend to set these changes in motion in the manager's amendment. With this, I will support passage of this bill to the Senate."

Representative MacArthur said: "I've always said that repairing our health care system is about people—not politics. As this legislation took shape, and as I heard from my constituents, I knew it was critical that we protect older Americans and the most vulnerable among us. Over the last several days, I offered specific proposals and urged House leadership and the Administration to do more for our older Americans, lower-income Americans, and the disabled. I'm glad that these changes reflect in large part what needs to be done."

Representative McSally said: "Over the past weeks, I have proposed detailed, specific changes to the AHCA that would provide better coverage and a stable transition for seniors, the disabled, children, and middle class families. Through lengthy negotiations with House leadership and the executive branch, I am pleased to have played a role in moving this bill in the right direction. I'm thankful leadership heard our concerns and worked with us to adopt these recommendations to ease the transition to a system that increases choice and access while bringing down health care costs."

And Representative Aderholt said: "The new language not only dedicates crucial resources to be available to help our older more poor population keep up with their premiums but is an important first step in fulfilling our promise in repealing Obamacare," said Robert Aderholt. "I look forward to the Senate adding to this account to ensure that we keep our promise to our constituents."

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Issues:Healthcare