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H.R. 987 116th Congress House

Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act

Official title: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide for Federal Exchange outreach and educational activities.

Introduced: May 9, 2019 Introduced by: Lisa Blunt Rochester Democratic · Delaware See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 49 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 16, 2019
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 987.
May 16, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 16, 2019
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 234 - 183 (Roll no. 214).
May 16, 2019
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 188 - 228 (Roll no. 213).
May 16, 2019
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to strike title I and insert new text.
May 16, 2019
Mr. Walden moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H3904-3908)
May 16, 2019
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
May 16, 2019
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
May 16, 2019
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 987.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 27.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Horn amendment No. 26.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cox (CA) amendment No. 24.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cox (CA) amendment No. 23.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pappas amendment No. 22.
May 16, 2019
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Wexton amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Wexton demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wexton amendment No. 21.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Escobar amendment No. 20, as modified.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Harder amendment No. 6.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gomez amendment No. 19.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 18.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch amendment No. 17, as modified.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lipinski amendment No. 16.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 15.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 14.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson (TX) amendment No. 13.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment No. 12.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Morelle amendment No. 11.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Scanlon amendment No. 10.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McBath amendment No. 9.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hayes amendment No. 8.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shalala amendment No. 7.
May 16, 2019
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Harder amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Harder demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 5.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Blunt Rochester amendment No. 4.
May 16, 2019
The Committee of the Whole continued with further debate on the Welch amendment No. 3.
May 16, 2019
The Committee resumed its sitting.
May 16, 2019
The Committee rose informally to receive a message.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch amendment No. 3.
May 16, 2019
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McKinley amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. McKinley demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McKinley amendment No. 2.
May 16, 2019
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 377, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone amendment No. 1.
May 16, 2019
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with ninety minutes of general debate on H.R. 987.
May 16, 2019
The Speaker designated the Honorable James R. Langevin to act as Chairman of the Committee.
May 16, 2019
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 377 and Rule XVIII.
May 16, 2019
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5, H.R. 312 and H.R. 987. The resolution provides for 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 5, under a closed rule. Section 2 of the resolution provides for 60 minutes of debate on H.R. 312, under a closed rule and section 3 provides 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 987, under a structured rule.
May 16, 2019
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 377. (consideration: CR H3853-3904, H3910-3911; text: CR H3868-3873)
May 15, 2019
Rule H. Res. 377 passed House.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 16, 2019 House · vote #214 On Passage Passed 234–183 See who voted →
May 16, 2019 House · vote #213 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 188–228 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 26

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

25 agreed to 1 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 245 – An amendment numbered 27 printed in House Report 116-61 to ensure that state healthcare Exchanges outreach ac… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 244 – An amendment numbered 26 printed in House Report 116-61 to ensure rural areas are included in navigator outre… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 243 – An amendment numbered 24 printed in House Report 116-61 to add areas with high concentrations of unemployment… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 242 – An amendment numbered 23 printed in House Report 116-61 to add a new subsection (b): Promote Transparency and… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 241 Pappas, Chris An amendment numbered 22 printed in House Report 116-61 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 240 – Amendment includes findings that the final rule on short-term, limited duration insurance weakens protections… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 239 Escobar, Veronica An amendment numbered 20 printed in House Report 116-61 to require Navigators to assist vulnerable population… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 238 Gomez, Jimmy An amendment numbered 19 printed in House Report 166-61 to clarify the ability of Navigators to provide refer… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 237 – An amendment numbered 18 printed in House Report 116-61 to add that the Secretary shall implement outreach an… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 236 – An amendment numbered 17 printed in House Report 116-61 to add a duty requiring navigators to provide informa… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 235 – An amendment numbered 16 printed in House Report 116-61 to require a GAO report to determine whether the Depa… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 234 Lynch, Stephen F. An amendment numbered 15 printed in House Report 116-61 to ask the GAO to conduct a cost benefit analysis of … Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 233 Lynch, Stephen F. An amendment numbered 14 printed in House Report 116-61 to establish the deadline by which States may apply f… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 232 – An amendment numbered 13 printed in House Report 116-61 to require Navigators to receive training on how to a… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 231 Waters, Maxine An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 116-61 to require HHS to submit to Congress a report on the … Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 230 Morelle, Joseph D. An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 116-61 to require GAO to study the effect of the administrat… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 229 Scanlon, Mary Gay An amendment numbered 10 printed in House Report 116-61 to require the HHS Secretary to issue biweekly public… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 228 McBath, Lucy An amendment numbered 9 printed in House Report 116-61 to provide pharmacy school outreach by directing the L… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 227 Hayes, Jahana An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 116-61 to amend the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) n… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 226 – An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 116-61 to state the sense of Congress that the Secretary of H… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 225 Harder, Josh Amendment provides opioid specific education and training to the Navigators and the Certified Application Cou… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 224 DeSaulnier, Mark An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 116-61 to Commission a study by the National Academy of Medic… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 223 Blunt Rochester, Lisa An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 116-61 to require the Secretary of the Department of Health a… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 222 Welch, Peter An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 116-61 to prohibit the Secretary of HHS from ending autoenrol… Agreed to May 16, 2019
HAMDT 221 – Amendment sought to strike title II, Health Insurance Market Stabilization. Failed May 16, 2019
HAMDT 220 Pallone, Frank An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 116-61 to clarify communication requirements for eligible pro… Agreed to May 16, 2019
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 Latest action May 20, 2019

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act

This bill addresses prescription drugs and the health insurance market, including (1) revising processes related to federal approval of generic drugs; (2) providing funding for states to establish health insurances exchanges; (3) nullifying an agency rule related to short-term, limited duration coverage; and (4) expanding outreach activities.

 Related & companion bills 15
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 987: Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-987/
MLA
"H.R. 987: Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-987/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 987, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-987/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 987: Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-987/)
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