As prepared for delivery.

When it comes to health care, Republicans are focused on lowering costs and expanding choice for ALL Americans.

For more than a decade, Democrats have promised Obamacare would lower costs. In reality, premiums have increased nearly 80 percent since the law was enacted while we've seen 150 rural hospitals close their doors. And now Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to extend subsidies that have only served to drive up costs and make health care more expensive for millions of American families.

Even worse, the Government Accountability Office has confirmed what Republicans warned for years: Obamacare is riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. GAO led a covert operation creating fictitious Obamacare applicants with fake documentation where 100 percent were approved in the first year and 90 percent are still receiving Obamacare subsidies today - exceeding $12,000 per month.

Data analysis from GAO also finds that 58,000 enrollees matched Social Security death records - with 7,000 of them being dead before enrollment began. One Social Security number was even associated with 125 different Obamacare policies in one year.

We should not continue propping up a system that has completely failed to lower costs.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act takes a different approach. One that delivers REAL relief.

First, it provides more freedom and flexibility through CHOICE Arrangements, empowering small businesses to offer tax-free benefits so their employees can find health coverage that works for them. This levels the playing field for small businesses, putting them on equal footing with large employers when competing for workers. These arrangements are proven to be successful - 83 percent of employers using CHOICE arrangements are offering coverage for the first time.

The bill also brings transparency to pharmacy benefit managers, requiring them to open up the books to finally give employers the data they need to increase competition and negotiate better drug prices for workers. The result? Health care costs and premiums will be lowered for ALL Americans, not just the 7 percent in the ACA exchanges, but also for the 300 plus million Americans who get their coverage through their employer or other means. All while saving taxpayers $2 billion in the process.

Mr. Speaker, Obamacare has driven costs up and choice down. This bill does the opposite.

I urge my colleagues to support the Lower Premiums for All Americans Act and stand with families, workers, and small businesses who deserve affordable, accountable health care.