On January 8, 2015, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 30, the “Save American Workers Act.”  The legislation would amend the ACA’s definition of “full-time employee” for purposes of the requirement that certain employers provide health care coverage for their full-time employees. Specifically, the bill, which was approved on a 252 to 172 vote, would define full-time employee as an employee who is employed on average at least 40 hours of service a week, rather than the ACA’s 30 hours.  The Administration has promised to veto the legislation if it reaches the President’s desk.

This vote followed unanimous House passage of a separate bill, H.R. 22, the “Hire More Heroes Act of 2015.” H.R. 22 is intended to encourage businesses to hire veterans by permitting an employer, for purposes of determining whether the employer is an applicable large employer and thus required to provide health care coverage to its employees under the ACA, to exclude employees who have health coverage under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration.

Both bills are awaiting Senate consideration.