Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the amendment we will be voting on is an amendment that allows the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan enrollees to enroll their children up to age 26 immediately rather than waiting until January 1, which is what the new law provides. Private insurance companies are providing this opportunity now for their individuals. Let me point out that I understand a point of order might be raised under the Budget Act. This has negligible costs. In fact, it will save some money in that children who reach the age of 22 between now and the end of the year will be required to disenroll and then reenroll again after January 1, which makes no sense whatsoever. The Office of Personnel Management wants to implement this plan now. They have the capacity to do it, but they need the legal authority to do it. For the sake of our 8 million active Federal workers, retirees, and their families, it makes sense for us in an orderly way to allow their children up to age 26 to be part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan now rather than have to wait until January 1. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and to support the waiver of the budget point of order.”