The Senate Jan. 12 passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget resolution, which included reconciliation instructions paving the way for repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
After several hours and votes on nearly 20 amendments, the Senate narrowly approved the resolution, 51-48. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) broke with Republicans and voted against the budget resolution. At press time, the House had yet to vote on the Senate-approved budget resolution; however, the House is expected to approve the budget resolution on Jan. 13.
Passage of the FY 2017 budget resolution sets in motion the process of repealing the ACA. The resolution instructs the committees of jurisdiction; House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees, and Senate Finance and HELP committees, to produce legislation totaling savings of at least $1 billion to the Budget Committee by Jan. 27.
House and Senate leaders have indicated they plan to vote on the final ACA repeal reconciliation package in February.