Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title United States Code, of the Rule Submitted By the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Health and Human Services Relating to

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, while I am so sad to be here, I am always glad to have the opportunity to recognize Senator Kay Hagan.

There are certain people who carry with them a warmth and kindness that lift up others, even in places that are not always warm or kind and even when the going gets tough. Kay was exactly that kind of person and one of the best examples I can think of. She wasn't only that--not at all. As another mom in the Senate, I saw how deeply she was dedicated to her family--her husband, Chip, and her children, Jeannette, Tilden, and Carrie. Kay was smart, witty, and fierce, and she was an unwavering champion for North Carolina families and communities.

Nine years ago almost to this week, Kay came to the floor to advocate for health reform, and she did it as she always did--by putting North Carolinians first.

Kay came here and she shared the story of Tim and Marilyn, a family from Mooresville, NC. They had racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debt because Marilyn's preexisting condition meant her only option was a high-cost, high-deductible plan. Kay called powerfully for protections for preexisting conditions.

Nearly a decade has now passed since the Affordable Care Act became law, so not everyone remembers how, in that fight, every single Senate vote mattered, and there were certainly some Senators who listened to the pundits and the naysayers at the time who wanted the bill to fail. Kay tuned out all of that and listened to people from her home State, like Tim and Marilyn, instead, and because she did, more than 4 million North Carolinians with preexisting conditions have protections in law today. They have the peace of mind Kay wanted so badly for Tim and Marilyn and every one of her constituents.

Democrats are going to be talking a lot about healthcare this week, and in particular, we are taking a very important vote on upholding those protections that Kay fought so hard for. So especially throughout this week, I will be thinking about Kay. I will be thinking about the difference her love for her State has made in the lives of people across North Carolina and our country. I will be grateful, as so many others are, for her amazing friendship, her wisdom, and her willingness to stand up for what is right.

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