Frank Pallone: “let me say that I do support the legislation and I want to commend my colleagues for addressing this issue today. I was…”

“let me say that I do support the legislation and I want to commend my colleagues for addressing this issue today. I was out in Nevada just a week ago, and I was actually on I80. I am not sure I know why a town in Utah would necessarily want to join Nevada; instead, maybe it should be Nevada joining Utah or vice versa. In any case, I understand the importance of the legislation, and both are beautiful States. However, Mr. Speaker, the reason I am taking to the floor right now is to draw attention to the fact that we have a number of suspension bills today, including this one, which I support. However, many of us on the Democratic side of the aisle are very concerned over the fact that we are not bringing up what we consider the most important issue to face this Congress, and that is the need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. I have taken to the floor many nights during Special Orders, and today during morning hour, and it disturbs me a great deal to know that the Republican leadership seems to have come to some sort of paralysis, if you will, on the issue of prescription drugs. We all know that our seniors and our constituents are crying out for Congress to address this issue, and yet the Republican leadership, for over 2 months now, has been talking about how they are going to bring up a prescription drug bill. They said they were going to bring it up before the Memorial Day recess, and they did not.”