Senator Patty MurrayVerified account

Democrats have been at the table and we're still at the table ready to do what we can to stabilize markets and lower families’ health care costs.

Senate Republicans have opted instead to surprise Democrats with a new, last-minute partisan so-called “stabilization” bill—one that included poison bills Republicans knew Democrats would never agree to.

I am extremely disappointed that we have reached this point—but that does not mean I am giving up on getting this done. I know many Rs have said this is the end of the road for bipartisan negotiations on health care—but if it is, that’s only because they have chosen that route.

I’m laying out what I hope Republicans & Democrats will ultimately be able to agree on—a bill that includes current-law prohibitions on taxpayer funding for abortion—what Democrats and Republicans agreed was acceptable just months ago.

The bill I’m putting forward would take strong steps to lower premiums and make health care more affordable for patients—and it would uphold protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as so many Republicans and Democrats have said we should.

We are not far from an agreement, I still think we can get there, and I hope Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting the amendment I am offering today—and that even if they don’t, I hope we can get back to the table and resume talks.