Sheila Jackson Lee: “I want them to know this bill is the law of the land. What we are trying to explain to them is the potential devastation…”

“I want them to know this bill is the law of the land. What we are trying to explain to them is the potential devastation of that bill being repealed. The good news is that this was a payback to those who voted for my good friends on the other side of the aisle, Republicans, and we understand that. But lives are involved. To the distinguished gentleman from Vermont, lives are actually involved. I just have a few points that I want to characterize this debate as and to give people comfort that we are still fighting for this law. This law is in place. Right now, the elimination of lifetime caps: you can still use this bill. The idea that seniors, some 40 million of them, beginning in January 2011 will begin receiving savings on preventative care services: you can still use this. This is very important, the 50 percent discount. If anybody had an earful from the seniors, it was the doughnut hole. At every senior citizen center you go to, they're talking about the choices I have to make between food and rent and prescription drugs. I want them to know the law is still in place.”