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House Committee Votes to Repeal Provisions of Health Care Law

On April 5, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved several bills that would repeal funding for portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-48). The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved the bills on March 31.

The committee approved the following bills:

  • H.R. 1213, a bill, sponsored by Chair Fred Upton (R-MI), to repeal mandatory funding provided to states in the PPACA to establish the health benefit exchanges, 31-20. The health benefits exchanges were established in the PPACA to assist small businesses and individuals in purchasing health insurance;
  • H.R. 1214, a bill, sponsored by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), to repeal mandatory funding for school-based health center construction, 27-15. The PPACA authorized grants to the school-based health centers program, which allow students to access health care services while at school;
  • H.R. 1215, a bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), to convert funding for personal responsibility education programs from direct appropriations to an authorization of appropriations, 25-17. The PPACA provided $75 million annually for FY2010-2014 for teen sex education programs; and
  • H.R. 1217, a bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund, 26-16. The Prevention and Public Health Fund was established in the PPACA to prevent tobacco use, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, and increase immunizations.

During consideration of H.R. 1213, the committee rejected:

  • An amendment by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) to prohibit repeal of funding for the state health benefit exchanges if the governor certifies a preference for federal government and states to establish and operate health benefit exchanges, 18-31;
  • An amendment by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) to allow states to use funding to certify health insurance programs that do not discriminate on the basis of gender, 18-31;
  • An amendment by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) to allow states to use funding to certify health insurance programs that do not discriminate on the basis of preexisting conditions, 17-31; and

The committee also rejected, by voice vote, an amendment to H.R. 1217 by Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) to retain funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund until the annual death rate among women with breast cancer is no greater than 0.02 percent, the annual death rate among women with cervical cancer is no greater than 0.002 percent, the annual rate of newly diagnosed invasive uterine cancer is no greater than 0.007 percent, and the annual rate of diagnosed late-stage breast cancer is no greater than 0.041 percent.