U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz Offers Amendment to Defund Obamacare

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) today gave his first major floor speech, offering his amendment that defunds Obamacare in the Continuing Resolution, the “Restore Growth First” amendment. He was earlier joined at a press conference by Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Rand Paul (R-KY) to discuss the importance of passing this legislation.

“Economic growth should be our first priority and if we implement Obamacare now, it is certain to be destructive to economic growth,” Sen. Cruz said. “We have already seen more and more small businesses reducing jobs, dropping healthcare coverage or forcing employees to work fewer hours in order to avoid the burdens and costs of Obamacare. Every elected official should be united in preventing a policy which will lead to further job losses and make it more difficult for young people, Hispanics, African Americans, single moms and others who are struggling. To implement Obamacare now, when the economy has flat lined, has potential to do enormous harm and enormous damage to the economy.”

Co-sponsors to the “Restore Growth First” amendment co-sponsors include: Lee; Inhofe; Paul; Marco Rubio (R-FL); John Cornyn (R-TX); Ron Johnson (R-WI); Jim Risch (R-ID); David Vitter (R-LA); Tom Coburn (R-OK); Tim Scott (R-SC); Dean Heller (R-NV); Pat Toomey (R-PA); Mike Johanns (R-PA); Deb Fischer (R-NE); Johnny Isakson (R-GA); Richard Burr (R-NC); Pat Roberts (R-KS); John Barrasso (R-WY); and Jeff Sessions (R-AL).

“Nancy Pelosi famously said we needed to pass Obamacare to see what was in it,” Sen. Lee said. “Now that we know what is in it, it's critical that we clarify for the American, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who does and does not still support this complex, expensive, and damaging law.”

President Obama promised American families they would pay $2,500 less for their insurance premiums by the end of his first term. Today, the average premium has increased $3,000—a $5,500 swing between what was promised versus what has happened.

Additionally, only 2 percent of the health plans currently available to consumers in the private market offer the coverage needed to satisfy mandatory government requirements, according to HealthPocket Inc., a technology firm that compares and ranks health plans. Obamacare also includes more than 20 tax increases that the Joint Committee on Taxation estimates will raise $1 trillion in taxes over the next decade.

Numerous third parties have voiced their support for Sen. Cruz’s amendment to defund Obamacare, including:

• Club for Growth
• Heritage Action
• National Taxpayers Union
• Family Research Council
• FreedomWorks
• Tea Party Patriots
• Americans for Prosperity
• National Right to Life
• Concerned Women for America
• Citizens Against Government Waste
• Eagle Forum
• Americans for Tax Reform
• Independent Women’s Voice
• American Commitment
• Madison Project
• Senate Conservatives Fund
• Campaign for Liberty
• Virginians for Quality Healthcare

Floor Speech Offering Amendment to Defund Obamacare

Press Conference on Amendment to Defund Obamacare