WASHINGTON – On January 13, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget that opens the door to repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

The near party-line vote (227-198) in the House came after Senate passage (51-48) on January 12. “Now that both chambers have passed the budget, Republicans have at their fingertips a powerful procedural tool known as reconciliation, which shields legislation from Senate filibusters and will allow them to ram through repeal with simple majorities,” reports Politico.

Following the House vote, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) stated: “By taking this first step toward repealing Obamacare, we are closer to giving Americans relief from the problems this law has caused. Too many families have seen costs soar, quality drop and choices reduced to one—which just isn’t a choice at all. This resolution gives us the tools we need for a step-by-step approach to fix these problems and put Americans back in control of their health care.”

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) said after the Senate vote: “With no replacement plan of any kind in place, a repeal of the Affordable Care Act will mean that millions of Americans—hardworking families, their children, the elderly, the poor, those with disabilities, the underserved—will lose their health coverage and have nowhere to turn. That’s why everyone from experts and groups representing doctors, nurses and patient advocates to small business associations and elected officials on both sides of the aisle have spoken out about the disastrous consequences of a repeal without an immediate replacement.”

Legislation outlining a new health care system will be drafted by the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees, with input from two Senate committees and leaders in both chambers, reports the Wall Street Journal. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) commented that the goal is to have a committee vote on the bill the week of Jan. 30 and bring it to the full House for a vote in February.