"Today's hearing on the Independent Payment Advisory Board comes at a crucial time."
"The fundamental concept underlying the administration's approach to health reform is that the government... knows better than patients and their doctors."
"Ten thousand seniors become eligible for Medicare every day."
"The program faces costs not covered by the Medicare tax of more than $30 trillion over the next 75 years."
"I do not believe that IPAB is the right answer."
"I am concerned that the only tool in the IPAB toolbox will be cutting payments to providers."
"Continuously cutting reimbursement to Medicare providers will prevent access to care for Medicare beneficiaries."
"I am concerned that IPAB's enormous power will grow at the expense of Congress."
"I agree with Mr. Pallone and Ms. Schwartz that we ought to repeal IPAB. It is wrongheaded. It is boneheaded."
"We cannot simply zero out this important program, as the administration has requested, and hope that other Federal programs not specifically dedicated to pediatric health care will pick up the slack."
"This is not a partisan issue; it is about children's health and lives. I urge my colleagues to support this bill."
"The current PDUFA authorization expires September 30, 2012, and it is my intention to have the reauthorization legislation signed into law by June 30 of next year."