Sandy Levin

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, spoke against the American Health Care Act on the House floor Friday. Here Levin is pictured on April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The pending American Health Care Act backed by Republicans benefits the wealthy but robs millions of Americans, U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Royal Oak, said in a speech on the House Floor Friday.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, are pushing the American Health Care Act as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as "Obamacare." That law increased coverage by providing government subsidies on insurance premiums for some and giving states and option to expand Medicaid coverage of low-income people. It also imposed penalties on those who did not have insurance coverage.

Republicans including Trump ran on a promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Their plan to replace it, the American Health Care Act, would eliminate fines on those who do not have coverage but put a 30 percent premium penalty on those who let coverage lapse. The plan would also end Medicaid expansion.

Levin joins Michigan's Democratic congressional delegation in opposing the bill, which he said would be a boon to the wealthy and corporations but hurt regular Americans.

"The Republican Majority says their bill is to provide patient centered health care.

But for patients there is no health care center when there is no insurance," Levin said.

A report from the Congressional Budget Office estimates the effects of the bill would include 24 million more uninsured people in the country over the next decade.

"The Republican bill robs millions of needed insurance for their health, and in many cases would rob them of their life," Levin said.

He urged America to "do better."

After clearing several procedural votes Friday morning, the U.S. House is expected to debate and vote on the health care plan later on Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.