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Rep. Messer Introduces Bill to Safeguard Students and Educators from ObamaCare Burdens

House Education and the Workforce Committee Member Luke Messer (R-IN) today introduced legislation that would exempt schools, colleges, and universities from the health care law’s employer mandate. The Safeguarding Classrooms Hurt by ObamaCare’s Obligatory Levies (SCHOOL) Act (H.R. 769) provides relief to schools burdened by the president’s flawed health care law.

“We shouldn’t be taxing schools to pay for the president’s health care law,” said Rep. Messer. “And, if we care about our kids, we will do something about it. The SCHOOL Act will stop the ObamaCare tax on school districts, save jobs, and help ensure more money is left in cash-strapped school budgets for teacher development and student learning.”

“The president’s health care law is making it harder for educators to provide students a quality education,” said Chairman Kline. “Colleges, universities, and K-12 classrooms are facing tough challenges, and we shouldn’t allow a flawed health care law to make those challenges worse. The SCHOOL Act is a responsible solution to this problem. I want to thank Rep. Messer for his leadership on this important issue and urge my colleagues to support this effort.”

Reports continue to reveal ObamaCare’s consequences on the nation’s school system – from diminished hours and wages for teachers, to reduced services for students. This confirms the negative feedback the committee has received from education stakeholders. For example, at an oversight hearing witnesses testified the law would increase costs at K-12 school districts and raise tuition at colleges and universities. To help protect administrators, teachers, and students from the negative effects of the health care law, the SCHOOL Act does the following:
  • Exempts K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, and state and local educational agencies from the requirements of the health care law’s employer mandate.

  • Requires the secretary of education to evaluate the impact of the SCHOOL Act on schools’ ability to meet the educational needs of low-income students and institutions’ ability to maintain current academic opportunities.

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