Ron Wyden

Around this building now there is that army of high-priced tobacco lobbyists who are getting ready to celebrate tonight. It looks like the tobacco industry is going to win a big round in this fight. The children lose. The powerful will…

I voted for S. 1723 because I am convinced that some high technology companies are facing critical labor shortages, which is in turn hampering growth in this important economic sector of Oregon's economy. It is critically important…

I commend our colleague from Illinois, Mr. Durbin, for standing up for the rights of patients in health maintenance organizations. This is an issue of enormous importance, and I think it is clear the Senate ought to be spending time…

I would finally say to the chairman that with respect to this matter of courtesy, I and Senator Grassley have no concern about that. Of course the hold, if we are talking about a few days or a few hours as a courtesy, is not what is at…

I think the relief nursery is a needed member of the community, providing invaluable services to children who need them most. Crisis nurseries work because they provide intensive, personalized, and long-term services to families with…

I am proposing that an amendment be accepted by the Senate that would modestly change one of a Senator's most extensive powers, the power to secretly block a measure or matter from coming to the Senate floor. Does the Senator believe that…

The resolution also contains a condition on the use of supporting aids and services where such use would place a significant difficulty or expense on the operations of the Senate. Is my understanding correct that this undue burden language…

My last point is we know, for example, that properly managed forests are a cost-effective alternative to end-of-pipe emission controls or carbon taxes. There are alternatives out there. My home State has shown they can work, and I thank…

This amendment allows several States to go forward with some of the most innovative work being done in health care in America--in Senator McCain's State and my own, several others. This amendment is budget neutral, but in our home State of…

I hope our colleagues will oppose the Bingaman amendment. This is not a question of ``not in my backyard'' run rampant. In fact, Hanford is in the State of Washington. It is not in the State of Oregon. The reason that it is important to…

I think that is what Dr. Ganske did when he took this up in the House, a Republican physician, who said that what we need to do is help people. We certainly are not helping people by having these gag rules that keep people from knowing…

I want her to understand that it has not been particularly pleasant to spend the afternoon taking different positions with somebody I admire. We have my amendment which passed 51 to 48, but did not get 60 votes, on a proposal that keeps…

Well, the parts that protect the patient and protect Indiana physicians, those parts are in fact protected under my amendment. But if there are parts of the Indiana statute that do not adequately protect Indiana physicians and do not…

This is in fact a national standard. Yes, we do say-- because managed care plans, many of them, operate in more than one State, we have said, you bet, we have a national problem. It is a national standard. But there are a small number of…

No, that is not correct. In fact, we specifically protect the rights of States to go further.

The Senator from Alabama told me that he does not have an official report from the Congressional Budget Office with respect to revenue on it. The Senator has said that the majority staff projects that it will cost $85 million.

In fact, in 1995, there were more than 80 votes on a motion asking the Budget Committee to refashion the leader's amendment to include Social Security protection. This is not a new issue to the U.S. Senate. More than 80 Members of the…

This is about making tough choices, and you can make them in a variety of ways. I said the other day that I thought some of what was going on in this town was like a hot-fudge-sundae approach to dieting. You can have tax cuts, you can have…

This amendment has been agreed to by both the majority and the minority. It simply says, if a polluter engages in action that violates our environmental laws and that action results in a penalty or a fine, those actions would no longer be…

I think Senator Hatfield has outlined quite well that the welfare system in America today does not work for anyone. It certainly does not work for taxpayers. In so many instances they watch as their tax dollars are frittered away. And I…

Mr. Chairman, the Furse amendment is not a referendum on earmarks. A lot of us on a bipartisan basis have reservations, as the gentleman from California [Mr. Brown] has said, about the earmarking concept. What we are concerned about is…

I want to repeat again that the university has cooperated with the Committee on Science at every step. They have returned detailed responses. The university president has been available to the committee at every step along the way. The…

As the gentleman knows, the Department of Energy is involved in a variety of important research. Much of this interfaces between communications and health and a number of related agencies.

The Department of Energy has been one of the pioneers in the research field. That is what this is all about. The Oregon Health Sciences Center is on the cutting edge of future medical technology.

Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, let me say that the reason that this approach rather than the Senate approach is important is our plan allows us to help American families today. Under our approach and the speed at which these technologies are…