Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) has co-sponsored H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2013, legislation that encourages small businesses to hire veterans by providing relief from the Affordable Care Act’s burdensome employer mandate.
“When our servicemen and women return home, the last thing they should fear is unemployment. And it is our duty in Washington to ensure there are jobs available for our veterans,” said Rep. Hultgren. “But Obamacare’s employer mandate has discouraged many small businesses from hiring more workers at a time when our economy is still struggling to recover.
“Growing up in a family-owned small business, I know first-hand the challenges of running your own business. This mandate is just another costly burden that discourages employers from expanding their workforce, and our economy cannot afford it. Lifting this burden on small businesses is a win for our veterans and our economy.”
The Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate requires all businesses with more than 50 full-time employees to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fee. H.R. 3474 allows employers to exempt veterans who already receive health coverage under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration from being taken into account for purposes of the employer mandate, allowing small businesses to hire veterans without facing penalties. Eight million veterans are currently receiving healthcare through the VA, an option open to every service member returning home.
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