Higher costs for the middle class. We watched obamacare unravel before our very eyes with each passing year and now it teeters on the edge of collapse and we face a choice allow the unsustainable obamacare status quo to continue, hurting more americans, or take action to finally move forward. Early on democrats made it clear they did not want to work with us toward the goal in a serious or bipartisan way. I regret that, but we have a responsibility to move forward, and we are. As ive said, our entire conference has been active and engaged on moving beyond obamacare for quite some time now. We have focused on stabilizing Insurance Markets which are collapsing under obamacare, improving the affordability of Health Insurance which keeps getting more expensive under obamacare, freeing americans from obamacares mandates which forced them to buy insurance they dont want, strengthening medicaid for those who need it the most, and preserving access to care for patients with preexisting conditions. Those are the principles. We believe we can do better than the obamacare status quo and we fullin tend to do so. We have all received the calls, letters, and emails from our constituents who have been hurt by this failed law. We all know the pain it has caused in our home states. Take my home state of kentucky, for example, under obamacare Insurance Markets are collapsing in kentucky just as we see them collapsing across the country. We want to stabilize them. Kentucky was once held up as an obamacare success story, but obamacare made a mess of Health Care Markets in my home state just like it has made a mess of markets all across the nation. To many families in kentucky who like their insurance plans or doctors soon found they werent able to keep them. When families were kicked off their plan, they must find a new insurer, often at a higher price. When families change doctors they often lose a bond of trust with a physician who is familiar with their medical history. When insurers flee the exchanges, it leaves families with fewer options for their health care. Kentuckians in nearly half of our state have only one option. A woman from lexington contacted my office about her difficulty finding a plan on the exchanges. Heres what she had to say i live in one of the three largest cities in our state and i had two options for insurance this year, she wrote, the limited networks on both of those two plans eliminated a huge number of providers in fayette county. In addition to the limited access to care on these plans she said the lowest deductible option was listen to this madam president 10,000. The lowest deductible option, 10,000. For this kentuckian and for so many others, obamacare has failed. We must do better better for kentuckians and better for families all across the country, thats why we have to act. Under Obamacare Health care costs are skyrocketing in kentucky just as they are skyrocketing across the country. We want to improve affordability. Too many kentuckians have learned firsthand that the socalled Affordable Care act has really been anything but affordable. Premiums and deductibles continue to climb higher as obamacare takes a larger bite out of kentuckians budget. A recent report shows that premiums have spiked in kentucky by 75 since 2015 when the law was fully implemented. This year alone obamacare premiums shot up by as much as 47 . After years years of being frustrated by obamacare, a Small Business owner from lancaster, kentucky, decided, quote, it was nonsense to buy insurance that covered nothing. Nonsense to buy insurance to cover nothing. Her plan covers no office visits, no prescription coverage and has a 6,000 deductible. In her estimate its useless. The rising cost of obamacare add a burden that many in my state simply cannot bear. I received heartbreaking letters from kentuckians like one family faced with dilemma pay for Health Insurance or put food on the table. As obamacare collapses, these families are stuck dealing with the consequences. Increasing costs have become the status quo under obamacare and its completely unsustainablable unsustainable for families in kentucky and across the country. Thats why we have to act. In kentucky families are forced to buy insurance plans that they dont want just as other families are being forced to do so all across our country. We want to free them from those mandates. The American People have made clear they dont like the mandate that compels individuals to purchase unaffordable obamacare plans or pay a penalty. When you combine those who pay the fine and those who received a waiver, it adds up to millions of americans who decided they didnt want or simply could not afford obamacare. So listen to the story of a single mom from baria, kentucky, who recently wrote my office had she a fulltime student trying to make ends meet. When she looked at the obamacare plan, she saw a startling picture high premiums and a staggering deductible. At this rate, she wrote, i would honestly be better not to take Health Insurance at all and just hope for the best. Americans like myself need something better. Some families, instead of bracing for another doubledigit increase next year are considering not buying Health Insurance at all. Because of the Obamacare Mandate they are forced to buy insurance they just cant afford. The elimination of the mandate will restore to americans the freedom to choose health plans that are right for them instead of being forced to purchase something that may not meet their needs. The American People, just like this kentucky mom, deserve a Better Health care system than obamacare. The Senate Republican conference is focused on addressing the issues i mentioned as we work toward strengthening medicaid and preserving access to care for patients with preexisting conditions. The kentucky stories i read this morning are just a sample of the pain felt by so many across my state just as americans from states across the country continue to share similar concerns with their senators. Obamacares years long legacy of soaring prices, shinning sources, and total failure will continue to get worse unless we act. The obamacare status quo is simply unsustainable. Its hurting americans and it will continue to do so unless we act. The American People are demanding relief and we intend to deliver it to them. Thats why Senate Republicans are continuing to work towards smarter Health Care Solutions that will finally allow us to move beyond this failed law. I want to repeat what i said yesterday. A discussion draft will be made public tomorrow. Every member of the senate will have it and it will be posted online for everyone to review. For the past seven years obamacare has continued to hurt the people we represent. For the past seven years republicans have offered ideas for a better way forward, and soon soon we will finally have the chance to turn the page on this failing law. Leader. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer thank you, madam president. Madam president , were only a little more than a week away from having to vote on a secret Republican Health care bill. According to the timelines given by the majority leader to the press. Just one week away from voting on legislation that will reorder onesixth of our economy and impact every single american in this country, and not a soul in america has seen it. I have never seen a more radical or reckless legislative process