Scalise Statement on Repealing Obamacare, Defunding Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding House passage of HR 2762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015. The bill now heads to the President’s desk.

“This important vote by the House finally puts a bill on President Obama’s desk that guts Obamacare and also defunds Planned Parenthood,” Rep. Scalise said. “We have been working hard to get a bill on the President’s desk that forces him to confront the many failures of his healthcare law, while also denying taxpayer funds to groups who perform abortions. If the President vetoes this important legislation, it will further underscore the importance of electing a President this November who shares our American values and who will sign this critical bill into law.”

Rep. Scalise’s leadership on reconciliation:

- In March 2015, Whip Scalise utilized his leadership position to gather support in the House to pass H. Con. Res. 27, the House Republican Budget. The measure included reconciliation language.

- In May 2015, Scalise praised Senate passage of the joint balanced budget agreement.

-In September 2015, Scalise brought forward the strategy of using reconciliation not only to dismantle ObamaCare, but also to defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of disturbing videos shedding light on the group’s inhuman practices. As he said in the interview with Roll Call, “If one of the objectives is to get a bill on President Obama’s desk that defunds Planned Parenthood, then budget reconciliation is the one way to ensure that happens. This is the most surefire way.”