Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) Thursday hailed House passage of the Republican plan to replace Obamacare. Palmer says the House "took the first step toward ... restoring access to affordable healthcare for all Americans." Palmer played a key role in the bill's success, by authoring an amendment creating a high-risk pool for people with expensive healthcare needs. Palmer says it "will drive down the cost of health insurance premiums, and helps ensure that those with preexisting conditions have affordable coverage." The amendment helped sway Palmer's fellow members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, including Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), who cited it as a reason he came to support the bill. The measure now heads to the Senate.