Graves Votes to Delay Health Insurance Mandates for American Families and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C.– This evening, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) helped pass legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives to delay both the individual mandate and the employer mandate contained in the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, the Authority for Mandate Delay Act (H.R. 2667) would delay the employer mandate for one year, while the Fairness for American Families Act (H.R. 2668) would delay the individual mandate for the same timeframe. Congressman Graves was a cosponsor of both pieces of legislation.

"In fairness, the Administration's decision to delay part of the health care law must now be applied equitably to all Americans," said Congressman Graves. "Sadly, some small businesses have reduced employees' hours or held off hiring in their scramble to comply with this law's heavy-handed requirements. Yesterday's release of the latest U.S. Chamber of Commerce's quarterly small business survey showed that 71 percent of small businesses say the health care law makes it harder to hire."

"Many sole proprietors are facing decisions about purchasing health care insurance as individuals, and they deserve a break too," continued Graves, who serves as Chairman of the House Small Business Committee. "Everyone deserves relief from this legislation before it becomes a bigger train wreck. From the beginning, this law has been too far-reaching, too hasty and too partisan. I will continue to support a complete repeal of this law to replace it with commonsense policies that hold down costs, put patients first and won't overwhelm the small businesses that are so vital to the economy."

The Obama Administration previously announced that it would be delaying the employer mandate for one year. However, the law itself gives the President no power to delay any of it, so the Administration is now venturing into new territory by taking those decisions on itself.

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