As Republicans Attempt to Jam Secret Trumpcare Bill Through Senate Without Hearings, Senator Murray Cosponsors the “No Hearing, No Vote Act” to Require All Fast-Tracked Reconciliation Bills Be Subject to a Committee Hearing Before a Final Senate Vote

The “No Hearing, No Vote Act” would prevent the Senate from considering any reconciliation bill, such as Trumpcare, unless it was reported out by at least one of the instructed Senate Committees & had at least one hearing on every major reported provision in the bill

 Despite the fact that the Republican legislation would impact 1/6 of the economy & millions of Americans’ health care, Republicans have said they will not hold hearings or share bill with public before the Senate votes on it

 Senate Dems: No Hearing, No Vote; the American people deserve to know what’s in GOP’s Trumpcare Bill 

(Washington, D.C.) –  Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), joined fellow Senate Democrats to announce new legislation – the “No Hearing, No Vote Act” — that would require that any legislation going through the fast-tracked reconciliation process, such as the Trumpcare bill Republicans are currently drafting in private, have at least one committee hearing and be reported out by at least one of the instructed Senate Committees before the full Senate is permitted to consider it. Senator Murray, the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, was joined by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Committee on Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Committee on the Budget Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Despite the fact that the Republican bill would impact one-sixth of the economy and millions of Americans’ healthcare, Senate Republicans are reportedly drafting a new version of Trumpcare behind closed doors and plan to fast-track the bill through the reconciliation process without having any committee hearings before a final Senate vote. Specifically, the Senate Democrats’ “No Hearing, No Vote Act” would prevent the full Senate from considering any reconciliation bill, such as Trumpcare, unless it has been reported out by at least one of the instructed Senate committees (in this case, the Senate Committees on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Finance) and there has been at least one hearing on every major reported provision in the bill.   

“Republicans appear to be dead-set on jamming their version of Trumpcare through the Senate in a matter of days,” Senator Murray said. “They have held no hearings, engaged in no public debate, and provided no information for people across the county to understand what this all-male, Republican working group has in store for their health and financial security. This is unacceptable, and I am going to continue pushing for hearings and open debate and calling on Republicans to reverse course.”

The full text of the Senate Democrats’ legislation can be found here.