House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Labor Issues

Health Care

The rising cost of health care is the number one problem facing millions of American families and small business in this country, and it's a major factor in the number of uninsured or underinsured Americans.  Estimates indicate 60 percent or more of the working uninsured work for or depend on small employers who lack the ability to provide health benefits for their workers.  All Americans should have affordable health care coverage options, and Republicans are committed to creating affordable options to help working families get the health care they need and deserve.

In short, Republicans are promoting commonsense reforms that will make health care more affordable, reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and increase quality at a price our country can afford -- all, while making sure Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it.  The Republican principles for health care reform are designed to:

• Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions.
• Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: a) eliminate the health care coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job; b) limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options; and c) result in the federal government taking control of your health care.
• Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs.
• Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats.
• Improve Americans’ lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases.

Press Releases

Kline on Health Care: Stop the Washington Power Grab (November 7, 2009)

Kline Statement on Passage of the Pelosi Government Takeover of Health Care (November 7, 2009)

Kline: Economy Languishes as Democrats Plot Government Takeover of Health Care (November 6, 2009)

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Member Views

Kline op-ed in The Hill: How to get reform now (October 7, 2009)

Kline op-ed at Townhall.com: Democrats' Health Care "Reform": The Next Job Killer (July 10, 2009)

Health Care & the Democrats’ Fuzzy Math:
Spend More to Save? (June 8, 2009)

Fact Sheets

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) (July 30, 2009)

What Price Health Care Reform? (July 30, 2009)

Democrats Reject Bipartisan Mental Health Parity
Reforms in Favor of Costly New Mandates (March 5, 2008)

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Dear Colleagues

Two Reasons Why NOT to use DSM for Coverage Purposes (March 5, 2008)

Employers Favor a Responsible Mental Health Parity Bill (March 5, 2008)

On the Minimum Wage, There IS a Better Way (January 9, 2007)

Left Turns

No House Health Care Bill? (September 29, 2009)

Small Business in the Crosshairs (July 15, 2009)

Even Democrat-on-Democrat Infighting Not Enough to Slow Frantic Government Takeover of Health Care (July 14, 2009)

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Floor Statements

Boustany Statement on Genetic Information Non Discrimination Act (H.R. 493) (April 25, 2007)

McKeon Statement on Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 2) (January 10, 2007)

Committee Statements

Kline Statement: Hearing on Protecting Employees, Employers and the Public: H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies (November 17, 2009)

Kline Statement: Markup of H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (July 15, 2009)

Price Statement: Markup of H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (July 15, 2009)

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