A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging congress to enact legislation pertaining to small business health plans.
Whereas, for years, the main concern for small business owners has been to provide affordable health insurance for their employees; and
Whereas, of the 27 million working people who are uninsured, 63% of them are either self‑employed or work for a small business that employs less than 100 people; and
Whereas, lack of competition and soaring administrative costs contribute to the inability of small businesses to provide health insurance for their employees; and
Whereas, uniform federal regulation of small business health plans would benefit small business owners, making health insurance more affordable and providing small business owners with greater health insurance options; and
Whereas, pending legislation before the United States Congress, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 (H.R. 525/S. 406), would provide for the establishment and governance of association health plans (also known as small business health plans), which are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations and which meet certain Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) certification requirements; and
Whereas, the legislation would allow health insurance issuers to offer coverage of the same policy type offered in connection with a particular association health plan to eligible employers, regardless of whether the employers are members of the particular association and regardless of State law; and
Whereas, small business plans would level the playing field and give participating small employers the same buying power as Fortune 500 companies and unions; and
Whereas, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 has bipartisan support; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The North Carolina House of Representatives urges Congress to enact the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 or similar legislation.
SECTION 2.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to each member of North Carolina's congressional delegation.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.