Anna Eshoo: “Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak about an issue that calls to a need of the American people. This is really a solemn…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak about an issue that calls to a need of the American people. This is really a solemn moment in this Chamber, and I regret enormously that my friends on the other side of the aisle did not have enough confidence in themselves to debate here tonight two plans, not just their plan. So since it is just their plan, that is what I am going to direct my comments to. I know you all love your mothers and fathers. So do we. We all love our families. We are talking about the American family. We are talking about senior citizens. Now when the American people go shopping for coverage for something, what do they want? They want something that is comprehensive, they want something that is affordable, they want something that is guaranteed, and they want something that is understandable. They have come to trust the gold standard that Medicare represents. Now my friends on the other side keep using the word 'Medicare.' Do we know why? It is the best marketing word in the country. But look at the fine print. What they do is they put the language down for Medicare, but they take the taxpayers' money and shift to private insurance companies, with no guarantee that there is any insurance company that is going to bring them these benefits. So American people: Beware. Beware of false advertising. This is no more a Medicare prescription drug plan than I am a redhead.”