"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."
"Hon. Joseph R. Pitts, a Representative in Congress from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, opening statement."
"Ten thousand seniors become eligible for Medicare every day."
"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."
"Patients, including those with life-threatening diseases, are willing to tolerate additional risk in order to try these new drugs."
"Americans are the most innovative people on Earth."
"If PDUFA is not reauthorized, this study estimates that 130,000 to 260,000 jobs would be lost."
"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."
"The American people expect and have a right to expect that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that drugs on the market are safe and effective."