John B. Breaux: “I point out the obvious; it is the only tripartisan bill that has been introduced in this Chamber dealing with this…”

“I point out the obvious; it is the only tripartisan bill that has been introduced in this Chamber dealing with this issue. We have had bipartisan bills introduced, and I congratulate the author, but there is only one bill that has the support of independents, Democrats, and Republicans, as well, and that, of course, is the Frist-Breaux-Jeffords legislation. I have come to respect all Members engaged in this debate because I think we all have the same goals, and in many cases we all have approached the solution to the problem in a very similar fashion--not identical but very close to being almost the same approach. I was struck yesterday by a number of our colleagues who were talking about the Senator from New York, the senior Senator, Mr. Schumer, and I think the junior Senator from New York was engaged in talking about individual patients, children who have suffered damages because of denial of access to care that is medically necessary. I thought the points they made were well taken.”