Susan Collins: “Today the Senate begins a truly historic debate on landmark legislation that will make affordable, comprehensive…”

“Today the Senate begins a truly historic debate on landmark legislation that will make affordable, comprehensive prescription drug benefits available to our Nation's seniors as well as to people with disabilities who receive Medicare benefits. This legislation is long overdue, but I am confident the Senate will, in fact, approve it before the Fourth of July. That is good news for our Nation's seniors. The Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act that the Finance Committee approved last week represents the most significant expansion of the Medicare Program in its 38-year history. I commend the chairman, the ranking member, and the other members of the Finance Committee, including my senior colleague, Senator Snowe, for their hard work in devising and developing this important package. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to make the improvements necessary to ensure that the Medicare Program can provide peace of mind to our Nation's seniors and true health security, not only to the 40 million American seniors who rely on Medicare today but to future generations as well.”