Steny Hoyer: “I want to thank my extraordinarily generous friend from Michigan, for whom I have not only great respect but great…”

“I want to thank my extraordinarily generous friend from Michigan, for whom I have not only great respect but great affection as well. I want to thank him for his more than half a century of leadership on issues of health care in America, on extending health care and insurance to every American, to ensuring that in this great country of ours every American has the opportunity to receive the extraordinary quality health care that we have available in this great country. I also want to thank my good friend, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel, who has for so many years fought the good fight. As he said on this floor, this is an opportunity for us to extend to children the benefits of health care. I want to mention the President's intent as well. I want to thank my friend from California, Pete Stark, who has been the Chair of this subcommittee and who has been so faithful. And I want to thank Mr. McCrery and the ranking member of this subcommittee. I understand we may have a difference of view, but we are working together now, as the American people expect us to do. I said on this floor last night that we would have a robust debate on this important legislation, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act. I think we have had that robust debate.”