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FLOOR DEBATE
REPUBLICANS HEALTH CARE BILLS
July 27, 2017
(Shorter Version)
~ 6 min.

Mr./Madam President. The Senate is now in its
third day of voting on major health care legislation
and we still have no idea exactly what the
Republican leadership wants.

Republican leadership tosses out options -- bills that
would affect the lives of millions of Americans and
one-sixth of our economy. Not even Republicans
know what proposal is coming next. And the
American public certainly doesnt know whats
coming.

Its like the Republicans are playing health care

Roulette. The Leader spins the Roulette wheel. The
ball lands -- arbitrarily -- on some version of ACA
repeal. And the Leader quickly calls a quick vote on
that random version of ACA repeal.

Soon, we are going to vote on a cynical amendment
from the Republicans offering Medicare for All.
They oppose Medicare for All. So why are they
seeking a vote? To distract from their own
dangerous bills and reckless process. Its a
desperate ploy, and everyone sees through it.

I support health care for all. It should be a right in
this nation. But this is a phony and insincere
amendment.

And all the while, the President stands to the side --

not caring one whit what that bill looks like or
how many people will be hurt in the rush to get a
bill out the Senate door.

On Tuesday, we voted on Leaderships Better Care
Reconciliation Act 2.0 -- that would cut 22 million
Americans off health care. It also has been rejected
overwhelmingly by Americans.

Yesterday, we voted on straight ACA repeal. No
replacement. That bill would throw 32 million
Americans off health care. That idea is no more
popular than the other bills.

Today, maybe we will vote on a last-ditch version

that would repeal PARTS of Obamacare. The so-
called skinny repeal option. That bill is no better.
It would mean 16 million Americans get thrown off
health care. And would raise premiums 20 percent.

This bill is the Republicans last hope. It takes away
the individual mandate to get health insurance, and
the employer mandate to provide health insurance
to employees. Like the other schemes the
Republicans have tried, it would hike premiums for
the elderly and sick.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is opposed. It says there

must be QUOTE strong incentives for people to
obtain health insurance and keep it year-round,
CLOSED QUOTE.

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And there must be ACA cost-sharing provisions for

consumers. Otherwise there will be QUOTE steep
premium increases and diminished choices that
would make coverage unaffordable and
inaccessible.

Like the other schemes, this wont ensure more
Americans will have health care. It means many,
many fewer will. It doesnt decrease health care
costs. It increases them.

Even worse, there have been no committee
hearings, no public input on this -- or any of the
other versions of ACA repeal the Republican
Roulette ball has landed on.


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My office has received 14,500 calls, emails, and

letters rejecting the Republicans plans -- an
unprecedented number from my small state. And
only 700 have called or written in support ACA
repeal.

I agree with Senator McCain. We must go back to
regular order -- and stop this gamesmanship.

We need to work together on a solution to improve
Obamacare by bringing down costs, making it easier
for small businesses to provide health care, and
especially by making prescription drugs more
affordable. But not by denying New Mexico families
and millions more access to quality health care.

The Republicans are playing with peoples lives.

Making sure severely disabled children have health
care through Medicaid is not a game. Neither is
kicking elderly grandparents out of their Medicaid-
funded nursing homes. Or enabling women to get
breast and cervical cancer screenings from Planned
Parenthood.

[pause]

It is hard to keep up with Republican versions 2.0,
3.0, 4.0, 5.0 of ACA repeal. But every bill is
consistent that it cuts care for millions of
Americans.

[CONCLUSION]
The Republicans keep proposing so-called health
care bills that are not actual health care bills.

A real health care bill would protect gains made, . . .
cover more people, . . . and make health insurance
more affordable. But the Republicans bills do none
of these things.
Their bills reverse gains, cover millions fewer
people, and make health insurance less affordable
especially for the most vulnerable.

The American people want everyone to have
affordable health care. That must be our goal.

Republicans and Democrats should be working hard

right now to get us to that national goal.

I have shared the stories of New Mexicans who
have lives have been changed and even saved
because of the ACA.

New Mexicans like Mike, from Placitas. Mike had
an aggressive cancer, but was diagnosed early
thanks to the ACA. And doctors saved his life.

And Alexis, from Albuquerque, who had a stroke
and brain surgeries when she was 28. She has
affordable health insurance with the help of ACA
subsidies.

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And Elena, who was able to afford a life-saving

mastectomy because of Medicaid expansion.

These are real people who are now jeopardized by
the Republicans bills.

And there are thousands more across New
Mexicoand millions across the countrywho are
crying out for the Republican majority to change
this reckless and dangerous scheme.

M. President, I yield the floor.