HARTFORD – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), leader of the #ACAWorks campaign and member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement after President Barack Obama vetoed H.R. 3762, the budget reconciliation bill that repealed signification portions of the Affordable Care Act. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced 11.3 million Americans had signed up for coverage on the state and federal exchanges established under the law.

“Congressional Republicans are celebrating accomplishing literally nothing. After over 60 attempts to strip millions of Americans of coverage and put insurance companies back in charge of patients' health care, I guess Republicans still aren't finished. We all knew this bill would be vetoed, just like we all know Congress will not even come close to overriding it. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. Now that the obvious futility of Republicans’ repeal efforts is clear, it’s time to let it go.

“There are real steps Congress can take to improve America’s health care system, like taking up comprehensive reform of our mental health care system. Let’s stop wasting more time and taxpayer money on doomed show votes."