For Immediate Release Contact: Dan Scandling
January 19, 2011 (202) 225-5136
WOLF STATEMENT ON REPEAL OF HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) today released the following statement in support of H.R. 2, the bill to repeal the Obama Administration’s health care reform law enacted last year:
“Today I voted to repeal health care ‘reform’ legislation that President Obama signed into law last year. Our nation’s health care system is far from perfect, and I will continue to support reforms such as guaranteeing that no one is denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health care plans until they reach age 26, allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, and working for medical liability reform.
“But I believe that Congress must find ways to pay for these reforms rather than continuing to add to the national debt. The health care reform legislation pushed by Democrats and the Obama Administration uses budget gimmicks to hide new costs, imposes new taxes on small business owners looking to hire, forces individuals to buy health insurance, and drastically cuts Medicare. Their version of health care reform will stifle economic growth – the wrong action to take during an economic downturn.
“The vast majority of 10th District constituents who have contacted me about health care reform let me know that they want Republicans and Democrats to work together, in an open and transparent process, to pass responsible health care reform that will lower costs and offer greater access to affordable health care.
“In order to achieve these shared goals, we must repeal the law passed last year and start a bipartisan process that protects both the health care security of Americans and the financial security of America. That’s why I will also vote tomorrow for legislation which will instruct four House committees to begin preparing replacement bills that will lower health care premiums through increased competition and choice; preserve a patient's ability to keep his or her health plan if he or she likes it; provide people with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health coverage; reform the medical liability system to reduce unnecessary and wasteful health care spending; increase the number of insured Americans, and protect the doctor-patient relationship, among other reforms.
“We must work to provide care to those currently in need without unduly burdening future generations. With nearly $62 trillion in liabilities and unfunded entitlement obligations, we cannot continue to add to the nation’s credit card and deny the truth about our nation's debt. I want to see Congress pass thoughtful, bipartisan health care reforms that do not violate our moral obligation to pass on a better society to our children and grandchildren. Voting to repeal the flawed legislation passed last year is the first step toward that end.”
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