Rep. Tom Graves Co-Sponsors Health Care Bill

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, who represents Paulding County

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) announced his co-sponsorship of H.J. Res. 50, which would establish a Health Care Compact. Under the compact model, health care authority and responsibility would be transferred from the federal government to any state that opted to participate. Member states could then implement their own health care systems – free of federal control – using federal health care funds that are already collected and spent in their state.

“I support the effort of Georgia and other states to take control of health care away from Washington,” said Rep. Graves. “The centralized approach of Obamacare is a disaster that resulted in higher premiums, limited choice and the cancellation of millions of health care plans.”

“As we work to protect individuals and families from the harmful effects of Obamacare, I believe states and their citizens should be able to pursue health care freedom and choice, and protect themselves from the broken promises and failed policies of the Obama administration,” Rep. Graves continued.

Compacts are governing tools outlined in Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution. They provide authority to states to administer government programs free of federal control. But congressional consent is required for states to enter into a compact, which is why H.J. Res. 50 is necessary.

Nine states have already passed legislation to join the Health Care Compact, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Kansas.