[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 727. Mr. CORNYN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 1628, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to 
title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 
2017; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING SUBSTANCE USE 
                   DISORDERS.

       It is the Sense of the Senate that:
       (1) The Committees of jurisdiction of the Senate should 
     review issues related to substance use disorders, 
     particularly related to opioids, including Federal efforts to 
     prevent the development of, improve access to treatment, and 
     promote recovery for people with opioid and other substance 
     use disorders.
       (2) Obamacare should be repealed because it increases 
     health care costs, limits patient choice of health plans and 
     doctors, forces Americans to buy insurance that they do not 
     want, cannot afford, or may not be able to access, increases 
     taxes on middle class families and fails to focus the 
     Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) on individuals most in need, such as 
     the elderly and the disabled, as evidenced by the following:
       (A) Premiums for plans offered on the Federal Exchange have 
     doubled on average over the last 4 years, and these increases 
     are projected to continue.
       (B) 70 percent of counties have only a few options for 
     Obamacare insurance in 2017, and at least 40 counties are 
     expected to have zero insurers planning on their Exchange in 
     2018.
       (C) 2,300,000 Americans purchasing plans on the Exchanges 
     are projected to have only one insurer to choose from in 
     2018.
       (D) The Joint Committee on Taxation has identified 
     significant and widespread tax increases on individuals 
     earning less than$200,000.
       (E) Medicaid costs have continued to spiral year after year 
     leading to a detrimental impact on State budgets, which 
     constrains State choices with respect to health care.
       (3) Obamacare should be replaced with patient-centered 
     legislation that--
       (A) provides access to quality, affordable private health 
     care coverage for Americans and their families by increasing 
     competition, State flexibility, and individual choice; and
       (B) strengthens the Medicaid program by focusing on the 
     most needy individuals and empowering States through 
     increased flexibility to best meet the needs of their 
     population.
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