The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Mighty god, you are the strength of our lives, our safe fortress and shelter from lifes storms. During this season of a raging tempest, speak your peace to our senators. Remind them that you continue to rule your universe through the unfolding of your prevailing providence and that your truth continues to march on in our nation and world. Lord, prosper the works of the hands of our legislators, as they strive to glorify you with their thoughts, words, and actions. May faith replace fear, truth defeat falsehood, justice triumph over greed, and love prevail over hate. We pray in your great name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice
Time, precious legislative time, on bill that was passed this body before and dont go anywhere. In our most recent bandaid for government funding, House Republicans made a claim that chip was extended until march 31. But that wasnt the case. By some reports states could run out of funding in the next few weeks. In colorado, our budget experts predict well run out of Childrens Health insurance money by the end of february. Cancellation letters are literally scheduled to go out at the end of this month. Mr. Speaker, this simply isnt a way to govern. Crisis to crisis, ignoring the real issues people care about to consider special interest legislation. Whats the Republican Leadership and Trump Administration continue to refuse to work on finding a bipartisan solution for the hundreds of thousands of deferred action for childhood arrival, for Daca Recipients, who are in limbo. We can put that bill on the floor today, the dream act. I feel it would pass. We have the votes to do so. Mr. Speak
Of the aisle who have stood up to this effort because no matter how many changes have been made in support by senators, this would be devastating. The senators are trying to hide the impact of the bill attempting to keep from a vote before there is a full score and analysis of the bill including estimates for how many people would lose coverage and how Health Care Costs would be affected. We received a preliminary estimate from c. B. O. , saying that previous to the trumpcare this would leave millions of Americans Without Health Insurance because of massive cuts to medicare. We wont see a more detailed score for weeks. The Republican Party is trying to rush this through because of rules that will expire on saturday. Fortunately a number of nonpartisan organizations are publishing data on the latest bill and agreed this would have similar impacts as the previous Trumpcare Bills. Tens of millions of americans would lose health care, states would be devastated, and costs would increase. A
Mr. Hatch mr. President. The presiding officer the president pro tempore. Mr. Hatch mr. President , the final pieces of obamacare care were signed into law a little over seven years ago. Since that time republicans not just in congress, but throughout the country have been united in their opposition to the law and our commitment to repeal it. This hasnt been simply a political or partisan endeavor. Were not just trying to take a notch out of president obamas win column. The simple truth is that obamacare is not working. The law was poorly written and the system it created was poorly designed. Even a number of obamacare supporters have come to acknowledge that it hasnt been working the way it was promised to work. As a result, millions of americans have suffered astronomical increases in their Health Insurance premiums, and fewer and fewer Insurance Options to choose from. That is obamacares great irony. The law requires people to buy Health Insurance while also making it impossible to
Important comoonts, and i have taken this on to try to understand as much as i can about judge gorsuch, to understand the dynamics of what his membership of the Supreme Court would mean because i recognize its not just an appointment for this term of congress. This is a lifetime appointment and it is very possible that he, if confirmed, will serve on the Supreme Court for a generation. So his impact on the white house of the Supreme Court is something that is extremely important to each member of the senate. I think many of us are looking for an associate justice who can bring about more consensus on the Supreme Court, who can try to deal with some of the great divisions of our nation in a way representing the values of our constitution that will allow our nation to move forward in a united way. We also recognize that the senate must give an independent evaluation of a Supreme Court justice. This is not because a president of your party nominated someone to the Supreme Court, whether y