Amy Klobuchar: “I thank my colleague from Oregon for his words. I rise today to give voice to the concerns I am hearing from so many…”

“I thank my colleague from Oregon for his words. I rise today to give voice to the concerns I am hearing from so many people in my State and across the country about this repeal bill. First, I want to recognize my colleague from Hawaii, Senator Hirono, who spoke earlier tonight about her personal battle with kidney cancer, as she is an example to all of us of determination and grit when the going gets tough. She not only is going to the hospital for surgery tomorrow--which isn't an easy surgery--but she decided she wanted to spend the night before she went into the hospital here because she is so passionate about this issue. I know she is going to fight this disease and win and come out stronger than ever. I have been so moved by how she has taken on her personal fight against cancer at the same time that she has kept this fight going in the Senate. She is doing it not just for herself or for her State but for people all over the country. As Senator Hirono has said, her experience shows how quickly a routine visit to the doctor can turn into a serious diagnosis--a diagnosis that becomes a preexisting condition. Everyone who faces a serious illness, no matter who they are, should be able to focus all of their energy on getting better, not on how they are going to pay their medical bills. Unfortunately, the bill we are considering doesn't allow everyone to do that.…”