Chuck Schumer: “Thank you, Mr. President. Healthcare Mr. President, first, on the issue of healthcare, since I last addressed this…”

“Thank you, Mr. President. Healthcare Mr. President, first, on the issue of healthcare, since I last addressed this Chamber, the bipartisan agreement reached by Senators Alexander and Murray has amassed enough cosponsors to guarantee its passage. It now has 12 Republican cosponsors and 12 Democratic cosponsors. That is as bipartisan as it gets. I believe all 48 Members of my caucus will support the agreement, which means it has the necessary 60 votes. Even Leader McConnell has made it clear that he will put the Alexander-Murray bill on the floor as soon as President Trump supports it. Let me make a direct appeal to the President. Mr. President, come out and support the Alexander-Murray bill. You called it ``a very good solution'' already. Announce that you will support it, and it will pass through the Senate soon after. The President's only stated concern was that the Alexander-Murray bill ``bails out insurance companies.'' I can assure the President that Senators Alexander and Murray took great pains to make sure the insurance companies would not get one extra penny from this deal. I have read the language. I have worked with them. It is good. It is strong. They have included provisions in the bill to prevent insurance companies from double dipping on the cost-sharing program and ensure that the money goes precisely where it is intended: to keep premiums and other out-of-pocket costs down for low-income Americans.…”