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HR 2197 109th Congress House Labor and Employment Armed Forces and National Security Commerce Contractors Employee health benefits Families Federal employees Finance and Financial Sector Fines (Penalties) Government Operations and Politics Government employees' health insurance Health Health insurance Injunctions Insurance premiums Law Medicaid Medical economics Medicare Military medicine

Health Care for Working Families Act of 2005

Introduced: May 5, 2005 Introduced by: Pallone, Frank Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 21, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
May 20, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
May 20, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
May 18, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 13, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
May 5, 2005
Introduced in House
May 5, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Health Care for Working Families Act of 2005 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to require each large employer to: (1) offer to each of its employees the opportunity to enroll in a qualifying health benefit plan that provides coverage for the employee and the employee's family; (2) contribute to the cost of such a plan; and (3) withhold the employee's share of the plan premium from the employee's wages.

Defines a qualifying health benefit plan as one that: (1) provides benefits for health care items and services actuarially equivalent to or greater in value than those offered as of January 1, 2006, under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) Standard Plan provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP); and (2) meets health insurance coverage requirements under the Public Health Service Act. Sets the minimum required contribution by an employer at the same portion of the total premium as the federal government pays for the BCBS Standard Plan under FEHBP.

Requires any employee covered under a federal health insurance program to accept an employer's offer of health insurance coverage and agree to payroll withholdings. Requires the relevant federal administrator of such a program to provide for the payment of the employee's share of the premium upon the employee's request.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to require a health insurance issuer that offers employee health insurance coverage to an employer to ensure that it complies with requirements of this Act.

What's happening now June 21, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 10
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2197: Health Care for Working Families Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2197/
MLA
"H.R. 2197: Health Care for Working Families Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2197/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2197, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2197/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2197: Health Care for Working Families Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2197/)
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