Republicans expressed strong confidence Friday that they would make good on their promise to repeal Obamacare after the House passed a budget resolution allowing them push through legislation ending the Affordable Care Act without facing a filibuster by Democrats.
"By taking this first step toward repealing Obamacare, we are closer to giving Americans relief from the problems this law has caused," House Speaker Paul Ryan said. "Too many families have seen costs soar, quality drop, and choices reduced to one — which just isn't a choice at all.
"This resolution gives us the tools we need for a step-by-step approach to fix these problems and put Americans back in control of their healthcare," he said.
Iowa Rep. Steve King said that "Obamacare has been a complete failure since day one.
"Americans have been forced to find new doctors and health insurance plans as they face rising premiums and out-of-control deductibles."
Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine said that "it's time for Republicans to deliver on their promises to fully repeal Obamacare."
The House voted 227-198 along party lines to allow the Senate to bypass the standard 60-vote threshold to bring forth a repeal bill, instead requiring only a simple majority.
Republicans also control the Senate, 52-48, and the chamber adopted the resolution on a 51-48 vote early on Thursday.
With both votes, the chambers instructed key committees to write legislation repealing President Barack Obama's signature domestic legislative achievement.
Nine Republicans joined Democrats Friday to oppose the budget move: Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan; Charlie Dent and Brian Fitzpatrick, both of Pennsylvania; Walter Jones of North Carolina; John Katko of New York; Raul Labrador of Idaho; Tom MacArthur of New Jersey; Thomas Massie of Kentucky; and Tom McClintock of California.
However, Republicans now face the challenges of determining which pieces of Obamacare to repeal immediately, and what replacements or stop-gap measures would be needed to put in place.
Healthcare groups have warned that repealing the Affordable Care Act without a sufficient replacement could disrupt the individual market and jeopardize coverage for millions of people.
House Republicans have voted more than 60 times over the last six years to repeal Obamacare.
King said Friday that on the morning after the Obamacare legislation passed — March 24, 2010 — he wrote the first bill to repeal it.
"Since then, I have consistently reintroduced the same magic 40-word repeal bill, my language has passed the House multiple times.
"Democrats have continued to try to bailout their sinking ship," King said. "It is time we stop drowning in the failures of Obamacare.
"It is time to repeal this egregious law, and provide real healthcare solutions to the American people."
Rep. Steve Pearce, of New Mexico, said that he remained "committed to repealing this harmful law and replacing it with a healthcare system that works for the American people.
"The American people have entrusted us with fixing this disastrous law."
South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy noted that "millions of Americans are quickly being forced off of their health insurance plans, contrary to President Barack Obama promising that if you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.
"Congress is in the process of proposing market-driven, patient-centered solutions to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare."
Other Republicans praised the vote on Twitter:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.