Richard Burr: “Today will be a heated debate. We will hear people criticized today that just yesterday were praised. To the Members in…”

“Today will be a heated debate. We will hear people criticized today that just yesterday were praised. To the Members in this Chamber, do not lose focus on one thing. There is one Member who has had his eye on the American people for years on this issue. His name is Dr. Charlie Norwood. For those who criticize him today, but praised him yesterday, let no person believe that he is not doing what he thinks is in the best interest of every American. The fact is that we do have new legislation. This institution can perfect things that are flawed, and I believe today that we are doing that. We will start with a base bill that incorporates the thoughts of many good colleagues, but because of the need to extend patient protections today to the American people, the gentleman from Georgia was brave enough to negotiate with the President until they came to an agreement on a piece of legislation he could sign and that protection could be extended. This is not about who wrote it or whose amendment it is. Yes, it is about what it says, but it is about whether it can be signed into law. This bill, amended by the Norwood language and, hopefully, several other amendments, can be signed into law and extended to the American people today; and this body will make a mistake if it does not support the Norwood amendment and provide patient benefits for the American people.”