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Image: A woman in a wheelchair is removed after disrupting a Senate Finance Committee hearing to consider the Graham-Cassidy health care proposal

U.S. news

Capitol Hill Protests Interrupt GOP Health Care Bill Hearing

Activists filled the hallways as the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to consider the Graham-Cassidy health care proposal.

/ 17 PHOTOS
Image: U.S. Capitol Police detain protesters laying on the ground

U.S. Capitol Police begin detaining protesters in an attempt to maintain order in the hallways outside the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the last-ditch GOP push to overhaul the nation's health care system on Sept. 25, 2017.RELATED: Sen. Susan Collins Deals Potential Lethal Blow to GOP Health Care Bill

— Susan Walsh / AP
Image: Activists opposed to the GOP's Graham-Cassidy health care repeal bill, many with disabilities, are removed by U.S. Capitol Police

U.S. Capitol Police remove an activist after protesters disrupted the Senate Finance Committee hearing.

— J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Image: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference about the latest republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference about the latest Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill.

— Aaron P. Bernstein / Reuters
Image: U.S. Capitol Police drag a blind protester out of a Senate Finance Committee hearing

U.S. Capitol Police drag a blind protester out of the hearing.

— Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Image: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. waits as people in wheelchairs are removed

Protestors filled the hallways outside the hearing room that snaked around the corner and down the length of a city block. Hundreds of people chanted "shame" as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. entered the hearing room to testify before the committee. Voluminous protests inside the hearing room delayed the start of the hearing. Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, attempted to gavel in the committee but protesters drowned him out. Police dragged them out, many of whom are disabled and in wheelchairs, out one by one.

ABOVE: Graham waits as protesters are removed.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: David Barrows of Washington, center, dresses as the grim reaper and wears a sign that reads \"Give me your poor, your sick, and your uninsured\"

David Barrows of Washington, center, dresses as the grim reaper and wears a sign that reads "Give me your poor, your sick, and your uninsured" as he joins other protesters outside the hearing room.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., carries pizza as he talks with people in wheelchairs

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., carries pizza while talking with people in wheelchairs as they rally before the hearing.

— Susan Walsh / AP
Image: An activist holds a sign that reads, \"I'm not Jon Bon Jovi. I can't live on a prayer. I need Medicaid\"

An activist holds a sign that reads, "I'm not Jon Bon Jovi. I can't live on a prayer. I need Medicaid." 

— J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Image: Democratic senators prepare to meet behind closed doors before the Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing to consider the Graham-Cassidy health care

Democratic senators prepare to meet behind closed doors before the hearing.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: A man in a wheelchair is removed after disrupting a Senate Finance Committee hearing to consider the Graham-Cassidy health care proposal

A man in a wheelchair is removed after disrupting the hearing.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., second from right, accompanied by Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, right, testifies

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., second from right, accompanied by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, right, testifies during the hearing.

Graham-Cassidy would end the Medicaid expansion in 2020 and reduce the money given to Medicaid by changing how it's allocated. It would no longer provide it for whoever is in need — instead, it would cap the number based on population.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: A woman in a wheelchair is removed after disrupting a Senate Finance Committee hearing to consider the Graham-Cassidy health care proposal

A woman in a wheelchair is removed after disrupting the hearing.

— Andrew Harnik / AP
Image: A woman begins to yell as U.S. Capitol Police are about to detain her

A woman begins to yell as U.S. Capitol Police arrive to detain her in the hallway outside the hearing.

— Susan Walsh / AP
Image:

U.S. Capitol Police remove a protester from the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

— Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Image: U.S. Capitol Police detain and process people who came to the Senate Finance Committee hearing

U.S. Capitol Police detain and process protesters.

— Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
Image: Sen. Al Franken tries to enter Dirksen Senate Office Building as Capitol Police detain demonstrators as the Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on the latest Republican Effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on Capitol Hill in Wa

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., tries to enter Dirksen Senate Office Building as U.S. Capitol Police detain demonstrators.

— Aaron P. Bernstein / Reuters
Image: U.S. Capitol Police detain and process people who came to the Senate Finance Committee hearing

U.S. Capitol Police detain and process protesters.

— Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
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