Barbara Boxer: “I thank the Chair. I thank Senator Kennedy for his courageous leadership with Senators Edwards and McCain, Senator…”

“I thank the Chair. I thank Senator Kennedy for his courageous leadership with Senators Edwards and McCain, Senator Daschle, and others in fighting for this bipartisan bill. Mr. President, this is a new day in the Senate. We promised a new day when we saw the leadership change and we meant it. We have this bill in front of us because we want to do something to help the American people. There is no more important issue than this one. The American people have been waiting too long to have their grievances addressed. Our bill offers real protection to those patients. It is in fact bipartisan. The compromises have been made, and when the President says he will veto it, I say to the people in this country: Do not stand by silently. This bill protects you against the abuses of the HMOs. The President stands with the HMOs. We here pushing for this bill stand with you, the people. And I keep coming back to that because the HMOs oppose our bill and they support the Bush principles. Let me tell you why it is so important to pass this bill. Every day, 35,000 patients do not have access to the specialty care they need. Every day, the delay results in 10,000 patients being denied the diagnostic tests they need.”