Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., unveiled a new policy agenda Thursday in his first major speech since being elected to the position last month. In addition, the U.S. Senate voted later in the day to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act, two major objectives of Congressional Republicans.
Ryan makes maiden speech
Ryan attempted to contrast the agenda between Republicans and Democrats ahead of the 2016 elections, noting his party will pursue policies even if President Barack Obama refuses to sign them into law.
“Only government that sends power back to the people can make America confident again,” Ryan said in the speech at the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. “And we House Republicans will do all we can to give us that government — even if the president disagrees. Even if he won’t sign them into law, we will put out specific proposals and give the people a real choice.”
Ryan said that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, strengthening the military in the face of Islamic terrorism and overhauling the country’s tax code were crucial pieces in preserving the country’s ideals.
“We want to see progress and have pride,” Ryan said.
Senate moves to defund Planned Parenthood, repeal Obamacare
Later in the day, the U.S. Senate moved to repeal key parts of Obama’s signature healthcare law, in addition to approving a separate measure that would defund Planned Parenthood.
It marked the first time the Senate has voted to repeal Obamacare. The House of Representatives has voted 53 times to repeal all or part of the bill.
“We made a promise to [voters] that if they gave us the majority last November we would have this vote and we would place this squarely in front of the president,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Tex.
Hours earlier, the body also voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Cutting funding for the organization has emerged as a top priority following the release of videos by anti-abortion activists that allegedly show top Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of fetal body parts.
Senate Democrats have attacked the measure, especially in light of a shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs last week.
A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said in an email the senator opposed the measure because it prevents women from getting important health care services.
“Senator Baldwin opposed this amendment to defund Planned Parenthood because it would cut Wisconsin women off from vital and trusted health services that they provide like lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, family planning, and well-woman exams,” press secretary John Kraus said in the email.
