Speaker Ryan at White House: “Republicans Are Committed to Keeping Our Promise”

May 4, 2017 | Speaker Ryan's Press Office

WASHINGTON—House Speaker Ryan (R-WI) made the following comments today at a White House press conference following House passage of the American Health Care Act:

“Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you for your leadership. There are too many people to name who played such an important role in helping us to get this part. 

“I want to thank a few people in particular. I want to thank Chairmen Greg Walden, Kevin Brady, Diane Black, Pete Sessions, and the members of their committees for all the hard work they put in to getting us to this point. I want to thank all the other members who contributed to making this the best bill possible. It really was a collaborative, consensus-driven effort.

“I also want to thank the team here at the White House. I want to thank Tom Price, I want to thank Mick Mulvaney, and I especially want to thank Reince Priebus—we could not have done this without you gentlemen. You guys are the best. 

“And of course, this would not have been possible if it weren't for these two gentlemen behind me. This is the fourth presidency I have served with. I have never, ever seen any kind of engagement like this. I want to thank Mike Pence and I want to thank President Donald Trump for their personal involvement in working with our members and working to get this right, for getting this done, and getting us to where we are. Thank you, gentlemen.
“Today was a big day, but it is just one step in this process. An important step. We still have a lot of work to do to get this signed into law. And I know that our friends over in the Senate are eager to get to work. They are.

“We’re going to see that work through. You know why we're going to see this work through? Because the issues are just too important. The stakes are just too high. The problems facing American families are real. And the problems facing American families as a result of Obamacare are just too dire and too urgent.

“Just this week, just this week, we learned of another state—Iowa—where the last remaining health care plan is pulling out of 94 of their 99 counties, leaving most of their citizens with no plans on the Obama market at all.

“What kind of protection is Obamacare if there are no plans to choose from? And this is a trend that we’re seeing all across the country.

“The truth is this law has failed, and it is collapsing. Premiums are skyrocketing and choices are disappearing. And it is only getting worse, spiraling out of control. 

“And that is why we have to repeal this law and put in place a real, vibrant marketplace with competition and lower premiums for families. That’s what the American Health Care Act is all about.
“It makes health care more affordable, it takes care of our most vulnerable, and it shifts power from Washington back to the states, and most importantly, back to you, the patient.

“Like I said, we've got a lot of work to do, but one thing is now clear: Republicans are committed to keeping our promise to lift the burden of Obamacare from the American people and put in place a better, more patient-centered system.”