Barbara Mikulski: “I see no discrepancy between the McCain amendment that we adopted last night and what Senator Harkin is doing. Senator…”

“I see no discrepancy between the McCain amendment that we adopted last night and what Senator Harkin is doing. Senator Harkin is essentially doing a bridge and ensuring that those States that might have to make readjustments under the new plan that is being suggested can do so, which I voted for; I voted for McCain. But doing McCain without Harkin is going to send out panic in the Northeast-Northwest corridor. We want to have full-scale cooperation. We want to do the plan being suggested in an orderly, rational way. We don't need administrators doing damage control instead of patient management. I do not see the discrepancy. Senator Harkin's amendment is for 1 year, this fiscal year, providing the bridge, because the Veterans' Administration does not have a plan. This does not prohibit McCain from going forward in terms of the plan and giving us the report in 60 days, beginning to implement the 60 days. You can do that, but it is going to take a full year to do it. With all due respect to the VA, they are, at times, a bit sluggish. This will at least give a year. I see that as a bridge. I thank the Senator from Iowa. I support the McCain amendment, I support the Harkin amendment, and I support the veterans. God bless America.”