Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.-14) issued the following statement after the House passed a government funding bill that included his Defund Obamacare Act (H.R. 2682), which would block funding for the health care law:
“This vote was in response to the demands of my constituents in Georgia and families across America. House Republicans are united in our commitment to keeping the government open and protecting our constituents from the harmful effects of Obamacare. We even saw some Democrats join us today.
“The headlines our nation woke up to this morning tell a devastating story. Major companies are dropping tens of thousands of part-time workers from health coverage, and it was reported that the government still cannot determine how much people will pay for coverage just ten days before Obamacare’s exchanges open. The president has already taken action to protect special interests and businesses from Obamacare, so why not sign a bill that protects everyone?
“Now, senators must prepare for the most important vote of their careers. Will they listen to the American people, or will they impose Obamacare on a country that desperately wants relief from the law. Will the people of Arkansas be heard, or ignored? Will the people of North Carolina be stuck with fewer hours and jobs, or will the Senate act to protect them? Will part-time workers in Louisiana suffer, or be saved from Obamacare? Senate Democrats now have to choose whether to fight for their constituents or follow Harry Reid."
Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (R-Tn.-04) released the following statement after voting in favor of the continuing resolution:
“Defunding Obamacare is an issue I simply will not compromise on. I promised my constituents I would use any and all available methods to defeat the president’s health care law and that is a promise I will make good on. If Senate Democrats want to shut down the government over this unmanageable law that even many of them no longer support, then they will have to answer to the American people. I am proud that House Conservatives held the line today and showed we will fight the president’s health care law to the very end.”
Following the vote, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (Tn.-03)made the following statement:
"Today I, and the House of Representatives, voted to keep the American government functioning and to defund Obamacare. The President has proven this law is a train wreck by picking and choosing which parts he wants to implement. The whole thing must go. At the same time, our nation must continue to move forward and address the real problems that we’re facing. That is why this bill also ensures that our government will continue to operate, and will do so within the parameters set by the President’s sequester. I hope the Senate will follow our lead and do the responsible thing by keeping our government open and defunding a law that most Americans don't want."
The Defund Obamacare Act was the first bill Rep. Graves introduced as a member of Congress in 2010. He reintroduced his bill in every Congress and again with Senator Ted Cruz in July 2013. Earlier this week, Speaker John Boehner announced that Rep. Graves’ Defund Obamacare Act would be added to the continuing resolution to fund the government, and that bill passed Friday by a vote of 230-189.