Political Quotes

“today, this Congress is missing a golden opportunity to pass a real prescription drug benefit for all seniors. During the Energy and Commerce Committee's consideration of the prescription drug bill this summer, my colleagues and I offered many amendments that would have improved this bill to ensure that all seniors, regardless of where they live, have access to an adequate, affordable, reliable prescription drug benefit. But my Republican colleagues defeated our amendments and pushed through a partisan bill that will do little to give meaningful help to the middle income seniors who most need a prescription drug benefit. In other words, Congress is passing up an opportunity to ensure that the retired, 68-year-old steelworker who had a heart surgery last spring and lost his retiree health insurance this summer, and who, along with his wife, has an annual income of about $28,000 can afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy. This bill does not even ensure that a person under these circumstances can access affordable prescription drugs from Canada or elsewhere in the world. For shame that we are passing up such an opportunity to do the right thing by our seniors. The AARP says that the prescription drug bill we are considering today is better than nothing, that it's one foot in the door. I disagree.”