Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated the Senate would not rush on legislation to reform the nation's healthcare system, but also maintained it was work that "must be done," The Hill reported Monday.
"This process will not be quick or simple or easy, but it must be done," McConnell said Monday, adding "to those who have suffered enough already, my message is this: We hear you, and Congress is acting."
The House approved the American Health Care Act on Thursday without any support from Democrats and was greeted with a lukewarm reception by the Senate in its present form. Lawmakers will likely rework the House bill to ensure enough votes to pass in the Senate.
McConnell said Congress must overhaul the nation's current healthcare system due to the "indefensible Obamacare status quo."
"It's the least members in both parties owe to the countless Americans who continue to suffer under Obamacare and the countless more who will be hurt if we don't act," he said.
McConnell must have at least 51 votes for the bill to pass in the Senate, after announcing Sunday the decision would be made with a majority vote. The Senate has 52 Republican senators, not all of whom are on board with the new healthcare bill.
McConnell has a group of approximately a dozen senators to come up with legislation that would win enough support to pass, The Hill reported. No Democrats are expected to vote in favor of reforming Obamacare.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.