Political Quotes

“I would like to follow up on the speech just made on the floor by my colleague from South Dakota because his observations about shortages when it comes to healthcare across America affect not just his State, South Dakota, but certainly affect Illinois and many other States as well. We are in desperate need of additional doctors and nurses and dentists and medical professionals. We are in need of more technology-- telehealth, of course, is one of those technologies--to make sure we expand the reach of Medicare in the United States. In the midst of this coronavirus pandemic, we understand that now more than ever. That is why I have introduced legislation called the Health Heroes 2020 Act with specific design to dramatically expand the number of healthcare professionals. There is one way to reach that goal, I believe, and that is to incentivize medical students and dental students in America to make a commitment to serve in areas of greatest need in this country for at least 2 years and to remain in a reserve, if needed, for medical emergency. What would they receive in return? Forgiveness of the cost of their medical education. Do you know that most doctors and dentists who graduate have a minimum of $240,000 in additional student debt over and above the undergraduate experience--$240,000 in debt when they become licensed doctors and dentists? Some have even more.…”