Political Quotes

“I rise to speak on the underlying bill and on the background for Medicare, Medicare modernization, and strengthening Medicare. First, I am delighted the discussion of health care security for our seniors has reached this stage of debate, active discussion, and active deliberation in this body. The House of Representatives admirably took this issue head on, worked very diligently through a committee process, and produced a bill, after debate, after discussion, and it passed. The House bill received a majority of votes and represents a very deliberate and very solid effort to address the cost of prescription drugs. More importantly, it addresses the issue of health care security--including prescription drugs as a part of the armamentarium physicians or nurses can use in looking seniors in the eyes and saying their health care security can be complete by passage of this bill. I think this is the crux of the issue. Now is the time for us to act to include prescription drugs--that powerful tool, that powerful element of health care as we know it today--as part of the overall health care security package for our seniors. Including a prescription drug benefit within Medicare is long overdue.”