I wonder if you might respond a little more on how we will be able to find the dollars? Because, as both of us have indicated--I know you have indicated in Connecticut; I have indicated it in Michigan--there are those who are doing very…

The folks on the front lines at home, in their uniforms, should have no less consideration. Why don't we say, whatever you need--if you are wearing a firefighting uniform, a police officer's uniform; if you are emergency medical…

I have had 11 different meetings from Detroit--large urban areas--to Macomb County, all the way up to Marquette in the upper peninsula, and over to the west side of the State. This report talks about only 50 percent of our firefighters…

I rise to support the Corzine amendment. I think this is an incredibly important amendment to this important bill. In doing so, once again, as I have done before on this floor, I commend our service men and women who have served us so well…

This is a very unfortunate time in the State of Michigan. We have traditionally had bipartisan cooperation on issues that affect our wonderful State and the people we all represent. I cannot think of a time when we have had in previous…

In May of this year, unusually heavy rainfall occurred in four countries of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan causing rivers and streams throughout the area to swell out of their banks, inflicting severe and widespread damages. The greatest…

I take a moment to send my thoughts and prayers to the family of Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a man of a remarkable career who made his mark in the permanent history books of the Senate and the country. I know he will be…

last night's vote on the Medicare prescription drug bill is one of the toughest votes I have cast since becoming Senator in 2001. As the people of Michigan know, I made the issue of adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare one of the…

I am very proud to be joining with my colleague on this very critical amendment. Can you imagine, you are someone who has worked hard all of your life, you have been fortunate enough to have a good-paying job with benefits, you are now…

someone once said, ``A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those that give.'' I rise today to offer a resolution to congratulate the American Dental Association for establishing the…

I wanted to ask is it not true that even though the report you just indicated made it clear the safety provisions, the oversight, is the same between Canada and the U.S., isn't it true that even in light of that, you have gone the extra…

Absolutely. The Senator from Illinois has hit what I think is the most critical point, and the reason there is such opposition, certainly from the pharmaceutical industry, to what we are trying to do through Medicare. They don't want the…

first of all, before explaining the amendment, I commend my colleagues for their leadership on the Finance Committee. They have been working very diligently--the chairman, Senator Grassley, and the ranking member, Senator Baucus, and…

First, I thank my colleague for his eloquence. It is true that 89 percent of the seniors in this country are in traditional Medicare. Only 11 percent are currently in managed HMO plans. Since 1997, seniors have been given a choice between…

We are indicating in this amendment we want to make sure every senior has the choice of traditional Medicare for prescription drugs as well as a choice of HMOs or PPOs or other private sector plans. The majority of seniors, as a matter of…

On the question of whether you want a for-profit insurance company or a bureaucrat between you and your medicine cabinet, or whether you want Medicare, which we have known and relied upon since 1965, I appreciate that there is a different…

prior to 1965, seniors had to go to private insurance companies to get their health care. Half could not find or afford private health care. That is why we created Medicare. Now we are looking at the opportunity to keep that choice for…

Absolutely not. What we are doing is saying, instead of two private insurance plans, we add a third, so instead of two choices, you have at least three.

I do not believe we are doing all we can do and should do as a country or as a Congress for our seniors under Medicare. I do believe Medicare has been a great American success story since 1965.

I wish to take this moment following his presentation to speak to the fact that there is much work left to be done by this body before we have prescription drug coverage that in fact meets the needs and the desires of the seniors of…

Well, I think my colleague is very wise in pointing that out. I often say that seniors made their choice and now our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said: We do not like that choice. Pick again. You cannot have this choice…

I wish to debunk the myths we have heard and are going to keep hearing so that we can get through what is fact and what is myth and focus on what we need to be doing, which is to strengthen Medicare to cover prescription drugs. I agree…

I believe Medicare has been a great American success story. We have seen both Medicare and Social Security bring our seniors out of poverty. Today, we have about 10 percent of our seniors in poverty rather than close to 50 percent prior to…

I believe ``home'' is one of the warmest words in the English language. At the end of a long day, I think the favorite phrase of every hardworking working man and woman in this country is: ``Well, I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going home…

I rise today to reflect on this year's Memorial Day commemorations and the importance of this holiday in American life. As I attend Memorial Day parades and commemorations, I'm struck by the spirit of national unity on display because I…