Protecting Military Pay

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, will the Senator from Vermont yield for a question?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DURBIN. I would say to the Senator from Vermont, I just missed Senator Cruz. I was rushing down from my office to ask the junior Senator from Texas a question, which I have asked him repeatedly. He has come to the floor and spoken at great length about why ObamaCare and the health care reform act is unnecessary for Americans. What I read is that 40 million Americans as of tomorrow will be able to shop on these insurance exchanges to buy their health insurance.

He has also spoken--as the other Senator from Texas did--about Members of Congress and their own health insurance. I have asked the junior Senator, Senator Cruz of Texas, to tell us about his health insurance. He has told us he is not in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Since he is addressing the health insurance of millions of Americans, I think it is not unreasonable for him to disclose publicly what his health insurance is, how much he is paying for it, and how much the employer contribution is on his health insurance.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DURBIN. It is a reasonable question. I am prepared to disclose that, and I think most Members are.

So I say to the Senator from Vermont, shutting down the government to keep the American people--40 million uninsured people--away from the opportunity under the Affordable Care Act is hardly the kind of work we want to be part of.

I thank the Senator from Vermont for his leadership on so many issues, and I thank him for coming here today in personal witness to the need for good medical care, even for Senators.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source