Congressman Robert Hurt Votes to Protect American Workers and Veterans from the President’s Healthcare Law

Thursday, January 8, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of two bills to protect American workers from the President's healthcare law.  H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act, would the restore the traditional 40-hour definition of "full-time employment" as it relates to the employer mandate in the President's healthcare law, and H.R. 22, the Hire More Heroes Act, would incentivize businesses to hire veterans by not counting them toward the employer mandate threshold:

"As we have seen time and time again, the mandates in the President's healthcare law are directly and negatively impacting the American people.  I share in the frustration and concerns of Fifth District Virginians with this policy.

"The '30-hour rule' has resulted in fewer jobs and reduced working hours for many Virginians and Americans, putting 2.6 million workers at risk of losing their jobs or their working hours.  The Save American Workers Act would restore the traditional 40-hour definition of 'full-time employment' to help protect hardworking Americans from having their hours and wages cut.  The Hire More Heroes Act also reduces the harmful effects of the President's healthcare law on small businesses and our nation's bravest men and women.  This legislation provides small businesses relief from the senseless employer mandate in the President's healthcare law and creates new opportunities for veterans looking to find work.

"As we begin the 114th Congress, these are exactly the kind of bills we will continue to advance to make it easier for our working families to succeed.   I remain committed to ensuring that all Virginians and all Americans are protected from the harmful impacts of the President's healthcare law.  I was pleased to see both of these bills pass the House with bipartisan support, and I urge our colleagues in the Senate to take up these good bills and allow the American people to get back to work."