WASHINGTON –  Congressman Lou Barletta now plans to back a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a Republican alternative after the Speaker of the House and President Donald Trump assured him that he could introduce a bill to ban illegal immigrants from getting any health-care tax credits.

Barletta, who represents Columbia and Montour counties as part of the 11th Congressional District, said in a press release that President Trump promised he would give his full support to Barletta's legislation, and Speaker Paul Ryan would get it to the House floor for a vote.

Barletta, R-Hazleton, cited a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs report issued last year that said under the Affordable Care Act, a half-million illegal immigrants received $750 million in health care subsidies. He had said Monday that he couldn't support the Republican replacement because it didn't contain assurances the practice would end.

The bill he plans to introduce would address the problem by requiring applicants for health care tax credits to provide valid social security numbers, which will be verified by the Social Security Administration, before they receive tax credits.

"Because my concerns were met, I will vote for the bill with the understanding that my bill will receive full consideration on the House floor next month,” Barletta said.

Political magazine The Hill says that Republicans can't afford any more than 22 "No" votes by House Republicans to pass the bill, if all Democrats oppose it. As of Wednesday afternoon, it listed 23 Republicans who had said they planned to vote against the bill, with six more Republicans listed as "Leaning/Likely No."