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Ways and Means Republicans Take Action to Deliver Relief from Obamacare Taxes

December 12, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the Ways and Means Committee today introduced several bills to deliver immediate, targeted relief from Obamacare taxes that will be in effect in 2018.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement after the Members introduced their legislation:

“Obamacare’s failures are continuing to hurt families across the country – and allowing burdensome health care taxes to continue or go back into effect would make these problems even more severe. As we continue working toward a patient-centered health care system, Ways and Means Republicans are taking action to provide targeted relief from taxes that stand in the way of affordable health care, innovative treatments, access to medications, more jobs, and bigger paychecks for hardworking Americans.

“I appreciate my colleagues for their work on commonsense proposals that will reduce health care costs for families, provide flexibility for employers to offer the plans that are right for their employees, and help American businesses bring jobs back to the United States. I look forward to continuing this work and advancing legislation in the weeks ahead.”

Background:

The following bills were introduced today:

  • H.R. 4617, introduced by Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN), provides relief from the job and innovation-killing Medical Device Tax for 5 years.
  • H.R. 4618, introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), provides relief for two years from the tax on over-the-counter medications, expanding access and reducing health are costs by once again allowing for reimbursement under consumer-directed accounts.
  • H.R. 4620, introduced by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD), provides relief in 2018 from the Health Insurance Tax that drives up health care costs, if the insurer provides the plan holder with a premium rebate and delays the tax in 2019 for all insurers.
  • H.R. 4619, introduced by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), provides needed relief from the Health Insurance Tax, for 2 years for health care plans regulated by Puerto Rico.
  • H.R. 4616, introduced by Reps. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA), delivers three years of retroactive relief and one year of prospective relief from the harmful employer mandate paired with a one-year delay of the Cadillac Tax.