Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas today made the following statement after the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act with a 248 to 179 vote.

“Lately, President Obama has been touting what he defines as success with Obamacare. In reality the flawed health care law isn’t working. As I continue listening to my constituents in Oklahoma’s Third District, it is obvious they are still struggling with the Affordable Care Act. Many keep worrying about skyrocketing premiums, canceled plans, losing their doctors and complying with onerous mandates.

“One mandate that has added an extra layer of burden on hard-working Americans is Obamacare’s employer mandate, which requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance to their entire workforce. Currently, Obamacare classifies any employee who works more than 30 hours a week to be full-time. Thus, many small businesses that fall within these criteria are suddenly facing a dramatic and unanticipated shift in their cost structure. Additionally, hourly workers are seeing their wages cut due to the 30-hour rule. This mandate, unfortunately, is among the most cumbersome regulations found in the so-called “Affordable Care Act”.

“To help ease the burden of Obamacare’s employer mandate, the House passed the Save American Workers Act. This bill modifies the definition of full-time employees as those who work 40 hours or more in a given week, and eliminates the incentive for businesses to cut employees hours. I am pleased this legislation helps ease the burden of Obamacare’s employer mandate and gives Americans the certainty they deserve in the workplace.”

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