U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today announced that bipartisan legislation to incentivize small businesses to hire veterans while at the same time providing them relief from the Affordable Care Act was overwhelmingly approved by the House by a vote of 406-1.
“Today’s vote shows that bipartisanship still exists in the House of Representatives,” said Davis, who introduced the legislation in November. “The Hire More Heroes Act is a jobs bill that will not only encourage the hiring of veterans but will also allow businesses to expand and grow our economy without being penalized.
“We know offering health care is costly for small businesses and the employer mandate in Obamacare has forced many to delay hiring, cut hours and in some cases reduce their payroll at a time when our economy is struggling to recover. So, it only makes sense to exempt veterans receiving health care through the VA from Obamacare’s employer mandate since they are clearly covered elsewhere and do not need employer-provided insurance.
“I’m humbled by the support that we've seen for this legislation today, especially from my friends Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Andy Barr, and hope for quick action in the Senate.”
“Congressman Rodney Davis’ leadership on the bipartisan Hire More Heroes Act will help decrease the number of unemployed veterans, and ensure that our small-business owners continue to grow our economy," said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). "When my friend Rodney first came to me with this idea, I immediately supported his effort because of the important constituencies that it serves. This is a commonsense improvement to the Affordable Care Act that will serve those who willingly serve and sacrifice for our nation.”
“Illinois small businesses appreciate Congressman Rodney Davis’s work to provide targeted relief for certain employers from Obamacare and provide greater hiring opportunities for veterans,” said Kim Maisch, NFIB IL State Director. “H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2013, would exempt military veterans with existing health insurance coverage from the problematic 50 full-time equivalent employee threshold from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate requirements. This mandate is already resulting in less opportunities and lower incomes for employees and a disincentive for growth for employers.”
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Background: H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act, incentivizes small businesses to hire veterans by exempting veterans who already receive health insurance through the Department of Veterans Affairs or reservists covered under TRICARE from being counted towards the number of employees required by the employer mandate under the Affordable Care Act. The employer mandate is a requirement that all businesses with more than 50 full-time employees provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fee.
The legislation has 37 co-sponsors and is supported by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), the only military service association representing the interests of every enlisted soldier and airmen in the Army and Air National Guard, and The Retired Enlisted Association, a Congressionally-charted veterans’ service organization and the largest association in the nation of enlisted retirees and veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces.
Bradley A. Lavite, Superintendent of the Madison County Veteran's Assistance Commission, came up with the idea for the legislation and had it shared with Rep. Davis at a Veterans Advisory Board meeting on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in November.
Currently, there are 8 million veterans receiving health care through the VA system, and every service member returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has the option of signing up for health care through the VA.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment among veterans is at 6.3 percent, slightly lower than the national average. However, veterans who have served since 9/11 are facing a much higher unemployment rate of 9.2 percent.
