Majority Leader McConnell: ‘Moving Beyond the Failures of Obamacare Is the Right Thing to Do’

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued the following floor remarks regarding the Senate Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare:

"The Senate took a critical step yesterday afternoon to finally leave the failed experiment of Obamacare in the past. It marks an important moment for our country. It signals a positive development for the countless Americans who continue to suffer under Obamacare's skyrocketing costs and diminished options. I thank every colleague who voted to begin this debate. I thank the president, his administration, and our friends in the House for the roles they've played.

"Now, we have to keep working hard. We're determined to do everything we can to succeed; we know our constituents are counting on us. We'll work through an open amendment process. I know members in both parties have health-care ideas they'd like to offer. If you've got one, bring it to the floor.

"Last night the Senate considered a comprehensive Obamacare repeal-and-replace substitute. That amendment was subject to a 60-vote threshold because the Congressional Budget Office had not provided a score for that provision yet, but it represented a number of important healthcare reform ideas developed by our members.

"Later today, the Senate will vote on another alternative that is based on the Obamacare repeal legislation that passed Congress in 2015 and was vetoed by President Obama. We'll consider many different proposals throughout this process from Senators on both sides of the aisle. Ultimately, we want to get legislation to finally end the failed Obamacare status quo through Congress and to the president's desk for his signature. This certainly won't be easy. Hardly anything in this process has been.

"But we know that moving beyond the failures of Obamacare is the right thing to do. We've put in a lot of hard work already. We've had important successes, like we saw with the vote to proceed yesterday. We have to keep up the work now so we can get this done."