Sires Votes to Protect Health Care for Millions of Women and Working Families

(Washington, D.C.)- Yesterday, Congressman Sires voted to oppose overriding the President’s veto of H.R. 3762, the Budget Reconciliation bill which would take away health coverage from millions of Americans by dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and defunding Planned Parenthood. 

“For the 63rd time the Republicans have voted to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act.  Thankfully, the President’s veto has been sustained and millions of Americans will not have to fear that their health coverage will be taken away.  Additionally, millions of women have been assured that they will continue to have access to life-saving cancer screenings and family planning services provided by Planned Parenthood,” expressed Congressman Sires.

Specifically, H.R. 3762 would repeal the ACA’s Medicaid expansion provisions and the ACA’s premium tax credits, effective in 2018; gut the individual shared responsibility provision and employer shared responsibility provision by eliminating the fees for not complying; repeal the Prevention Fund; and repeal the small business health coverage tax credit.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would have resulted in 22 million Americans losing their health coverage after 2017.  In addition to repealing many of the key provisions of the ACA, H.R. 3762 would prohibit federal funding through Medicaid for Planned Parenthood in 2016, leaving millions of women without key preventive health services.

“I am grateful that the President’s veto of this toxic bill was sustained and now hope that my colleagues are ready to move forward with a new strategy that will help American families instead of stripping away essential benefits,” stated Congressman Sires.

The veto was sustained by a vote of 241 to 186 (a two-thirds vote is required to override a veto) and H.R. 3762 will not become law.