[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6464]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               OBAMACARE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, my friend, the Republican leader, continues 
to complain about ObamaCare. This has been the mantra of the 
Republicans since it passed. But the true facts are these: ObamaCare 
has reduced the number of uninsured to the lowest rate since we have 
been keeping records in America. The uninsured are going down, not up. 
People are healthier now as a result of being able to go to the doctor 
or the hospital when they are hurt or sick.
  Now, we talk about ObamaCare in a vacuum. What was going on before 
Obamacare? Insurance companies ravaged the American people. The people 
who were fortunate enough to have health care had to be aware that at 
any given time they could have their insurance canceled. If you were 
disabled, there was no insurance. But that isn't all. If you had a 
prior malady of some kind--if you had cancer, if you had diabetes--you 
couldn't get insurance--but not anymore. Under ObamaCare you cannot be 
denied insurance for any condition.
  They used to charge women more than men--for no reason, except that 
some statistical analysis had taken place in some dark room by a guy 
with green eyeshades who determined that maybe, statistically, women 
cost a little more than men. They can't do that anymore.
  I am always so stunned by this mantra: ``We have to replace it.'' 
With what? It has been 7 years. With what? The Republicans have come up 
with nothing.
  So, in short, is ObamaCare perfect? Of course not. Could we improve 
it? Yes, we could. But it would be nice to have a little cooperation 
from the Republicans. They are unwilling to do anything other than 
complain.

                          ____________________