WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 22, the Hire More Heroes Act, which will make it easier for veterans to find good-paying, high-quality jobs by exempting those covered by VA or TRICARE from Obamacare’s employer mandate.

“Our nation’s heroes have endured great challenges – and for too many veterans, that includes finding good-paying, high-quality jobs. The President’s health care law has crippled Eastern Washington businesses which are eager to hire our heroes, but stymied because of the red-tape and high costs of Obamacare’s employer mandate. The Hire More Heroes Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that makes it easier to employ hard-working veterans in our community by exempting them from the employer mandate that limits small businesses from growing.

“Our military men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice, and I’m proud that the first action of America’s New Congress is to give back to them, while also repealing another detrimental part of Obamacare. This is the first of many solutions we will advance in America’s New Congress for families in Eastern Washington.”