Chuck Hagel: “Mr. President, this debate in which our body has engaged over the last 5 days I believe has been helpful for our country…”

“Mr. President, this debate in which our body has engaged over the last 5 days I believe has been helpful for our country because it has focused on a critical need, a need to come forward with a Medicare prescription drug plan, a plan that is focused on those who need it most and that is responsible. None of the programs we have debated over the last few days have been perfect. The proposal that Senator Ensign and I and others have brought to the floor is not perfect. We were not given much of an opportunity to work through these issues where we normally have opportunities to work through issues, and that is in committee. So we debated something so critical to our seniors, to the future of our country on the floor of the Senate. When we do it that way, we have to rush. We slam things together. There are imperfections in that process, but nonetheless, again, I believe this has been an important, enlightened, educational, and helpful process. We now have one option before us. We voted down two options yesterday. We have the Hagel-Ensign plan that we will vote on within the hour. What this plan does is give our seniors a very significant benefit. I ask: Would we really deny our seniors not only the benefit-- the real, practical, relevant, tangible benefit--of this program, but also something maybe more important, and that is the peace of mind that they will not be ruined by catastrophic drug costs?”