Senator Susan Collins’ Statement on the House’s Decision to Cancel Vote on Health Care Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released this statement following Speaker Paul Ryan’s decision to cancel the vote on the health care bill:

“As the cancellation of today’s vote in the House demonstrates, there were significant and serious problems with the House bill, which is why I opposed it. The House bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would have resulted in 24 million Americans losing access to health insurance; disproportionately hurt rural Mainers between the ages of 50 and 64; and shifted tens of millions of dollars in costs to the State of Maine, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and families who have insurance.

“This is an extremely important debate with significant implications for millions of Americans. Our current health care system is under considerable stress, but the House bill was not the solution and would have imposed hardships on those who could least afford it.

“I urge my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to take a look at the legislation Senator Bill Cassidy and I have introduced, which would expand access to affordable health care in a way that provides more choices and helps to restrain costs.”