Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) received a standing ovation on Tuesday when he entered the Senate chamber to cast an affirmative vote for the debate on health care to proceed. His was a key procedural vote to begin the debate on a health care bill to replace Obamacare.
The Senate Republicans voted by a narrow margin, forcing Vice President Mike Pence to break the 50-50 tie to proceed with the health care debate. McCain and Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) were the last two Republicans to vote for the health care bill.
As McCain walked into the chamber, his Senate colleagues erupted into a standing ovation that lasted nearly a minute. McCain's warm welcome came after his office announced last week that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Sens. Susan Collins (R., Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) were the only two Republican senators to vote "No" on the motion to proceed with the debate.
