Voter opposition to the Republican healthcare bill is the result of misunderstanding, and lawmakers will be able to "really explain it" once it becomes law, Rep. Chris Collins said Thursday.

"In my district, right now there's a lot of misunderstanding as to what it is we're doing," the New York Republican said on MSNBC. "And once we get it done, and then we can have the chance to really explain it."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was famously excoriated by Republicans for her 2010 comments regarding ObamaCare that "we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."

House leaders postponed the floor vote on the bill on Thursday in the face of mounting GOP opposition, and are expected to take up the measure on Friday. While it has the backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump, the bill is facing fierce opposition from conservative and some moderate Republican lawmakers — and united opposition from Democrats.

Collins is among the 91 GOP members of Congress firmly backing the bill. But Republicans can't afford more than 22 defections on the vote, and as of Friday morning 34 GOP congressmen were opposed to the measure, while another eight were leaning toward a "no" vote.