Senator Roberts Issues Statement on Obamacare Repeal Resolution

Statement

As the U.S. Senate begins debate on a Budget Resolution necessary to begin the repeal of Obamacare, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today released the following statement:

"Obamacare has not lived up to its promises," Roberts said. "The cost of care for Kansans is still rising while access to quality care is diminishing. We need to move health care away from Obamacare and toward a more affordable system where health care decisions are made by patients and their doctor.

"As the Congress begins to address the damage caused by Obamacare, I will work to ensure patients and providers are left with a system that make sense and improves access to care for all Americans."

The Senate is currently considering the first Budget Resolution of the year, relating to the repeal of Obamacare. The Resolution contains reconciliation instructions that require committees to dismantle Obamacare by reducing federal spending by $2 billion. For more information and for text of the Budget Resolution, go here.

The Budget Resolutions are privileged and require a simple majority to pass. The Resolution is subject to 50 hours of debate to include votes on amendments expected to occur next week.

Once approved in the Senate, the House of Representatives would consider the Resolution. Select Senate Committees would then begin work on reconciliation and report back to the Senate Committee on the Budget. Final Senate approval would then be required.

Senator Roberts serves on the two committees that will be tasked with reconciliation: The Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

Senator Roberts has been an outspoken opponent of Obamacare and voted against it both in Committees and on the Senate floor.

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