Thomas Daschle: “as we near the end of the 105th Congress, I would again like to voice my frustration about the fact that the United…”

“as we near the end of the 105th Congress, I would again like to voice my frustration about the fact that the United States Senate failed to consider and pass important legislation this year that could have greatly benefited the American people. Unfortunately, the highway leading to adjournment is littered with legislation that should have been considered, passed and enacted long ago, including efforts to prevent teen smoking, modernize our public schools, and increase the minimum wage. I am particularly disappointed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle prevented the United States Senate from considering managed care reform legislation. Yesterday, Senate Republicans even prevented us from proceeding to their own HMO reform bill. Time and again, the American people have said they want a comprehensive, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. Toward that goal, several of my Democratic colleagues and I introduced the Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998. That legislation addressed a growing concern among the American people about the quality of care delivered by health maintenance organizations. Despite enormous public support for HMO reform, Democratic efforts to consider the Patients' Bill of Rights were stymied at every turn.”