WASHINGTON -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., introduced legislation Wednesday to repeal the individual insurance mandate that is a central tenet of President Barack Obama's health care law.

The proposed legislation, the American Liberty Restoration Act, was introduced by Alexander, who is Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member, and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

"This health care law is an historic mistake that expands a health-care system we already can't afford, drives up individual premiums, and then taxes Americans to pay for it," Alexander said in the news release.

"Congress should repeal the law, especially the individual mandate, and then proceed step-by-step to reduce the cost of health care so more Americans can afford to buy insurance," he added.

The American Liberty Restoration Act would strike provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, that require individuals to purchase health insurance.

Never before has the federal government forced the American people to purchase something they may not want, Alexander said.

The individual insurance mandate comes into effect in 2014.