Murray: Republicans Face Choice With Health Care Vote Tomorrow, Stand With Families, Patients or President Trump, Big Insurance Companies

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release:

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- Tomorrow, Democrats will force Republicans to vote on legislation to reverse the Trump administration's rule encouraging states to promote junk health insurance plans and threaten pre-existing condition protections

- Republicans will have to go on the record and show whether they stand with patients and families, or the Trump administration and big health insurance companies

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Today, Senator Murray, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about Democrats' plans to force Republicans to vote tomorrow on a Congressional Review Act resolution to roll back the Trump administration's 1332 waiver rule, introduced by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), which encourages states to eliminate protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, increase families' health care costs, and promote high-cost, low-quality junk health insurance plans. The vote tomorrow will force each Senator to go on the record and show whether they stand with vulnerable patients and their families or the Trump administration and health insurance companies.

"This afternoon I join with a number of my colleagues on this side to put Republicans on notice that their health care charade is coming to an end. Tomorrow, the Senate will go on the record, and make clear once and for all whether they stand with patients and families who are counting on them, or with President Trump and big insurance companies. Tomorrow, Democrats will force the Senate to vote on our bill to reverse President Trump's rule that undermines protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and promotes junk health plans and higher health costs for families.," said Senator Murray in a floor speech.

"Democrats are going to bring forward a bill to ensure protections for pre-existing conditions that Leader McConnell can't bury, and that Republicans can't hide from," Senator Murray continued.

Senator Murray's full speech below and watch a video HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTkRZ9G8dnA&feature=youtu.be).

"Thank you M. President.

"M. President this afternoon I join with a number of my colleagues on this side to put Republicans on notice that their health care charade is coming to an end. Tomorrow, the Senate will go on the record, and make clear once and for all whether they stand with patients and families who are counting on them, or with President Trump and big insurance companies. Tomorrow, Democrats will force the Senate to vote on our bill to reverse President Trump's rule that undermines protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and promotes junk health plans and higher health costs for families.

"For too long Republicans have been making empty promises on health care while taking harmful steps that make things worse for patients and families.

"Time after time, Democrats have asked Republicans to work with us to actually make health care work better for patients and families. But time after time, Senate Republicans have said no.

"In fact, there has been no greater cheerleader for President Trump's relentless attacks on families' health care, and no greater obstacle to passing solutions to repair the damage, than Senate Republicans.

"M. President, this isn't just a hypothetical conversation. Any day now, we could get a ruling on the partisan lawsuit brought by President Trump that would undermine health care for over a hundred million people by ending protections for people with pre-existing conditions, stripping away coverage families got through the exchanges and Medicaid expansion, and letting young adults get kicked off their parents' insurance before they turn 26.

"A Republican win on this lawsuit could drive up costs by scrapping caps on patients' out-of-pocket costs, while bringing back lifetime and annual caps on their benefits--even for those insured through their employer, and ending essential health benefits that require insurers to cover prescription drugs, maternity care, mental health care, emergency care, and more.

"When Senate Democrats took a stand against this dangerous lawsuit, and introduced legislation to fight for patients and protect their care, Senate Republicans ducked for cover, and did not bring it to a vote. Just like they've done with Senate Democrats' efforts to bring down drug prices through impactful steps like Medicare negotiation, or restore funding to help people find the care that's right for them when open enrollment starts this week, or make coverage more affordable for working families.

"Now Democrats in the House have already made progress on some of these steps--from successfully joining the lawsuit to fight for patients, to passing legislation that would restore Navigator funding, reverse President Trump's harmful junk insurance rule, and more.

"Republicans in the Senate have blatantly failed to live up to their promise to fight for families' health care.

"Instead of working with us on these steps to help families, to protect patients with pre-existing conditions to do what families sent us here for, they have buried each of these solutions in their legislative graveyard--so that they don't even have to admit on the record that they aren't doing anything to help protect families' care.

"Well not tomorrow.

"Tomorrow, Democrats are going to bring forward a bill to ensure protections for pre-existing conditions that Leader McConnell can't bury, and that Republicans can't hide from.

"Tomorrow, every single one of us is going to have to go on the record about where we really stand on families' health care and protections for pre-existing conditions.

"Tomorrow, we will be voting on Democrats' legislation to reverse a step President Trump took to warp a tool that was meant to encourage innovation, into one that encourages states to eliminate protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, increase costs, undermine essential health benefits, and promote harmful junk insurance plans that can charge vulnerable patients more, and cover less.

"Letting President Trump's rule stand could leave millions of patients stuck with higher premiums higher out of pocket costs and no affordable options to get the health care they need.

"Our vote tomorrow to reverse this rule that takes protections away from patients, and gives power back to insurance companies offers a clear test about who Senators are actually fighting for.

"People across the country are going to be watching tomorrow and taking note of who is pushing for solutions to protect their care--and who is blocking them. Who is trying to repair the damage President Trump has caused--and who is trying to cause even more harm. Who is fighting for their health care, and who is fighting against it.

"I hope each and every one of my Republican colleagues think long and hard about the promises they have made to their constituents, and how they are going to look them in the eye after the vote tomorrow.

"And I hope that each of them finally decides to do the right thing and stand up for families' health care--even if it means being a Republican who stands up against President Trump.

"I believe issues as important as families' health care should come before party--and I hope we'll see tomorrow that Republicans agree.

"Thank you."