Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:

Expanding Health Care Choices for Workers and Small Businesses ✅

When it comes to health care, one size doesn’t fit all. 

In 2019, the Trump Administration implemented rules to allow small businesses and employers to provide tax-advantaged funds to workers employees to purchase their own health insurance plans, expanding health care options for employees and letting small businesses focus on their business and plan better financially.

The Trump Administration also strengthened and expanded Association Health Plans to give more people greater access to more affordable health care options.

Rep. Kevin Hern’s legislation, H.R. 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act, which also includes H.R. 2868, Rep. Tim Walberg's legislation, the Association Health Plans Act; Rep. Claudia Tenney's legislation, H.R. 3798, the Small Business Flexibility Act; and H.R. 2813, Rep. Bob Good's legislation, the Self-Insurance Protection Act, codifies the Trump Administration's two rules to ensure small business owners and employees are able to have these more affordable health care options, includes a notification to employers to make sure they know these options exist, and protects the self-insured market that employers depend on. 

“The cost of healthcare, and the ever-growing burden of paperwork, has become a massive hardship for both employers and employees,” said Rep. Kevin Hern. “The CHOICE Arrangements Act puts employees in the driver’s seat when it comes to picking their health care plan, and lets employers financially support their decision. This is a common-sense solution. I’m proud to have earned the support of my colleagues to pass this legislation and I look forward to continuing the fight to lower the healthcare costs for American families and small businesses.”

What Members Said:

“According to the National Federation of Independent Business, Small Businesses have ranked the cost of healthcare as their number one problem for 32 straight years,” said Rep. John Rose. “The CHOICE Arrangement Act will enhance the flexibility and affordability of healthcare options for small businesses, by aiming to reduce administrative burdens, and by empowering small employers to provide the type of health care coverage that works best for their employees.” 
 
Rep. Bill Johnson noted how H.R. 3799 reduces administrative burdens for small businesses. 

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Denouncing Biden’s Veto of Legislation Stopping Unconstitutional Student Loan Bailout ✅

In August, President Biden revealed his plan to ‘cancel’ student debt for people making under $125,000 – a plan that is estimated to cost American taxpayers $400 billion, in addition to $195 billion from a repayment pause and $230 billion for the Administration’s Income-Driven Repayment plan.

This plan doesn’t ‘cancel’ anything. It forces American taxpayers who never took out loans or paid them off to pay off debt held by about 13% of the population who took out federal loans.

H.J. Res. 45, introduced by Rep. Bob Good, revokes the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional claim to have the authority to forgive loans and ends the pause on student loan repayment, saving taxpayers money. 

Despite this resolution passing both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support, President Biden vetoed it, holding on to his expanded power at the expense of taxpayers.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised, that Democrats once again chose to vote in lockstep with President Biden and support this reckless student loan transfer scheme. It is disgraceful and unfair to force hardworking Americans who chose not to attend college or who responsibly paid off their student loans to pay off hundreds of billions of other people's debt,” said Rep. Bob Good.

What Members Said:

Rep. Randy Feenstra highlighted how President Biden has wasted taxpayer dollars, and how his student loan bailout will cost taxpayers $400 billion.
Rep. Richard Hudson called attention to how it is unfair to force hardworking Americans without outstanding student debt to pay off debt that is not theirs.

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Condemning Housing Illegal Immigrants in School Facilities ✅

In May of 2023, as part of an effort to deal with Biden’s border crisis and the mass influx of migrants, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams announced his plan to house illegal immigrants in public school gyms.

Schools should be focused on providing the best opportunities to their students, who are already suffering from post-pandemic learning loss, not taking aways their access to safe physical education and extracurricular activities.

Additionally, housing illegal immigrants in school gyms poses a significant safety risk to the young students at those schools and disrupts their learning environment.

H. Res. 461, introduced by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, condemns housing illegal immigrants in elementary and secondary school facilities.

“As a mother and physician, I do not see how our colleagues on the other side of the aisle can let this stand,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “H. Res. 461 bans the Biden Administration from using schools to house illegal aliens. Using school facilities as shelters for illegal aliens instead of schools, as they were intended, creates a host of issues ranging from safety hazards for young children to a freefall of security issues as a result of not providing adequate accommodations or security screenings. At a minimum it deprives students of their space for recess and physical education. I am proud that my colleagues voted to stand up for our education system and pass this crucial bill to save our schools and protect our schoolchildren.”

What Members Said:

“This resolution makes three distinct points: first, housing illegal immigrants in our schools diverts critical resources away from students; second, housing adult unvetted illegal immigrants in our public schools poses a safety risk to our children; third, schools are not to be the sacrificial lamb for the failed progressive policies of this Administration,” said Rep. Brandon Williams. “Just last week, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle repeatedly justified the housing of illegal immigrants and public schools, comparing it to the response to natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. I couldn't agree more. The President's border policies are a disaster, though manmade. I stand to put our children first.”
Rep. Doug LaMalfa pointed out how schools are for American children, not illegal immigrants.

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Blocking FHFA’s Unfair Housing Rule Penalizing Reliable Borrowers ✅

In January of this year, the FHFA announced changes to the pricing grid for single family loans that forces borrowers with good credit to subsidize riskier loans for less reliable borrowers with low credit.

Why should we penalize borrowers who have worked hard to pay their bills and establish good credit? It is unfair to punish borrowers for maintaining good credit and reward borrowers who haven’t. 

Rep. Warren Davidson’s legislation, H.R. 3564, the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act of 2023, cancels the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s changes to single-family mortgage pricing framework that makes reliable borrowers with good credit subsidize riskier loans, and makes sure such changes cannot be done in the future. 

“Responsible action should never be penalized, and irresponsible action should never be subsidized,” said Rep. Warren Davidson. “The Biden administration’s mortgage rule is a socialist redistribution of wealth. I’m glad to see my colleagues recognize this issue and pass my legislation to reverse this rule.”

What Members Said:

“The Biden Administration's mortgage rule is the most recent in a long line of upside-down, crazy, absolutely crazy, policies by this Administration,” said Rep. Debbie Lesko. “It's upside down. It incentivizes people not to have good credit scores. Americans who have good credit scores and have been fiscally responsible should not be forced to effectively subsidize the loans of people with bad credit, especially in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, with still high inflation rates, and rising home prices. The Middle Class Borrower Protection Act repeals this terrible policy and ensures that Americans are not unfairly punished for being fiscally responsible.”
 
Rep. Stephanie Bice highlighted how the Biden FHFA's new rule further increases the role of the federal government.