I have shown my colleagues the charts of the numerous laws that the States have passed during the past decade dealing with patients' rights. Each State has taken action on some of these consumer protections. They have done so without any…

Members of the NAIC are also concerned about enforcement. As you know as a former state regulator, if there is no enforcement then there is no protection. States have developed the infrastructure necessary to receive and process consumer…

We do need strong remedies to prevent HMOs from denying needed care. There is no dispute over that point. All of us are deeply troubled by cases in which an HMO has acted in a way that was not in the best interest of the patient. That is…

under the McCain-Kennedy bill, the Federal Government could preempt existing State patient protection laws unless they had already enacted identical protections--not just similar ones, identical ones. The approaches taken by the 50 States…

Maine has led the way on insurance reform. Maine is one of only 12 States that cover clinical trials. The Maine legislators gave careful consideration to what the scope of that coverage should be, and a Democratic legislature and an…

My hope is that we can come together on this important issue. It is important, and I think it is unfortunate that we didn't get through a conference on the Patients' Bill of Rights last year. Then we would have had these protections…

In March, after completing preparations at Fort Polk, Louisiana and Fort Stewart, Georgia, some 1,200 soldiers of Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade were deployed to Bosnia to participate in the peacekeeping mission. They are following in the…

Finally, Mr. President, I thank my principal cosponsor of this legislation, Senator Feingold of Wisconsin, for his contributions to this bill. We found that Maine and Wisconsin have many similar problems in ensuring that there is an…

I could not help but get a little bristle on the back of my neck sitting in my office listening to all of the rhetoric that is being said here on the floor this morning. The complaints about the marketplace, the complaints about charges…

I want to respond to the legitimate point the Senator from Montana has raised. It is true teachers can deduct unreimbursed expenses--theoretically. The problem is, most teachers don't make enough money to itemize. So most of them do not…

I rise this evening with my good friend, the distinguished senior Senator from Virginia, Mr. Warner, to offer an amendment providing tax relief to our Nation's teachers. It would be difficult to script a more appropriate time for us to…

But my daddy was one of the smartest people that I ever knew. He had less than a third grade education, and I often heard him say that the road to the poorhouse was paved with good intentions. We have created so many programs in this…

the people of the State of Georgia strongly believe that the Federal budget policies should be based on guidelines of limited government, lower taxes, and increased local control of local affairs. The budget resolution before us today…

I first commend the Senator from Connecticut for his extraordinary efforts. He has such a commitment to improving the education of disadvantaged children. He has been a leader in this effort, and I am very honored and pleased to join him…

I once again repeat my praise of his efforts as well as those of the chairman of the committee. Senator Jeffords and Senator Kennedy have done incredible work in bringing us together on this important issue... To reach our goal of helping…

No endeavor is more important to our Nation's future than ensuring that all children receive a good education. In a real sense, the future of our country rests on the shoulders of our Nation's educators and depends upon the decisions we…

first let me make clear that the amendment I am offering does not change the amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from Louisiana. What it would do instead is add to the tax cut $70 billion in order to cover the following: A tax…

I am pleased to join with several of my colleagues, including Senators Bond, Hutchinson, Mikulski, Ensign, Snowe, Cochran, Gordon Smith, and Santorum, in introducing this amendment to eliminate the automatic 15-percent reduction in…

let's get this straight. Whether the amendment of the Senator from Michigan passes or whether my amendment passes, the Senate Finance Committee is still going to have to report legislation repealing the 15-percent cut. There is no absolute…

Despite my favorable vote, I wish to express my deep concerns about the form and level of spending included in this amendment. The Grassley amendment will add an additional $63 billion in mandatory spending to agricultural programs over…

Senator Domenici has been extremely helpful in drafting this amendment. I am grateful for his help. Senator Roberts has also been a real leader in this area. I must say I am very disappointed to hear the comments of my friend and colleague…

on March 14 we will celebrate the 80th birthday of a great American, Mr. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of the Chick-fil-A restaurant chain. In his book, It is Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, Mr. Cathy says and I quote, ``The longest…

for 8 long years I have waited to tell the people of Georgia that the President of the United States has sent a bill to Congress which will reduce the tax burden on every taxpayer in America. That day has come. Mr. Speaker, the previous…

on March 3, a C-23 Sherpa aircraft was returning 18 members of the Virginia National Guard to their home following two weeks of training duty in Florida, and tragically, the plane never arrived. The aircraft crashed in Unadilla, Georgia…

the concerns and needs of small businesses have always been a priority for me. When I talk to small business owners throughout the State of Maine, I hear over and over again that they have two major problems: One is the high cost of health…