Senate Proceeding on Oct 7th, 2009 :: 1:39:40 to 1:54:50
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1:39:37 to 1:40:00( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: so usual from arizona wishs to offer his amendment, we could proceed and senator shelby will return to make his statement and we'll just keep the business of the senate moving as promptly and well paced as we can. mr. president, i yield the floor. the presiding officer: without objection, the materials will be

1:39:40 to 1:54:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John McCain

1:40:01 to 1:40:21( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: insert mr. mccain: the desk and ask for its immediate consideration. amendment number 2629. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator arizona, amendment 2629. mr. mccain: i ask that the reading of the eamentd be dis-- amendment be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection.

1:40:22 to 1:40:43( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: mr. mccain: mr. president, i say to the distinguished manager and senator from maryland, i'll be glad to interrupt, amendment upon return of the senator from alabama if he wishes to speak and then continue after that. and i thank the senator from maryland for her hard work and excellent explanation of the

1:40:44 to 1:41:04( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: legislation before t mr. president, this amendment would lower america's health care costs immediately. it would provide access to less expensive imported prescription drugs. for far too long powerful lobbyist from t industry have stood in the way

1:41:05 to 1:41:25( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: of americans' access to affordable imported drugs. their enormous political campaign contributions made in return for political support of their agenda and their secret, unsavory deal house, in exchange for their support of the health care reform, have further contributed to the american people being prevented from accessing cheaper

1:41:26 to 1:41:47( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: prescription drugs. instead americans continue to pay 60% or higher for t prescription drugs that are sold in canada. this amendment is necessary because americans need access to lower cost drugs now. they need it now due to these difficult economic times.

1:41:48 to 1:42:09( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: we all know about americans' salaries are being cut, household budgets are slim, millions of americans are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments. for these rens and so many more, americans should not be forced to wait another and affordable prescription drugs outside of the uni states. while americans all over the

1:42:10 to 1:42:30( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: country and having to choos between their next meal and their necessary prescriptions, the large pharmaceutical companies continue to pressure congress of any legislation importation of safe an lower-priced prescription drugs. now, i'd that this is legislation on an

1:42:31 to 1:42:52( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: appropriations bill. something that i have long opposed. and, sti but there's been an unusual process taking place and that process is one which has forced meo come to this situation. because on two separate occasions, the majority leader

1:42:53 to 1:43:14( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: of assured me that legislation would be taken up before the senate and both times has changed his mind. the majority leader r consideration of amendment to allow for the importation of prescription drugs during debate on the family smoking prevention and tobacco control act.

1:43:15 to 1:43:39( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: at the time the majority leader said on the floor -- quote -- "this is something that should have been done. i'm -- i'm sorry to say years ago, not weeks this issue is important legislation on the issue should have been done years ago, then why wasn't it brought up for consideration immediately after the tobacco bill in june? while the stand alone bill to

1:43:40 to 1:44:00( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: allow importation, the s.1232 bill was placed on the senate's calendar on june 11, 2009, there's been no further effort by the majority leader to call it u for consideration. instead he sent me stating -- quote -- "i'm th

1:44:01 to 1:44:21( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: importation of lower-cost prescription drugs as soon as practicable." the practicable time was back in june. there's no pack particularral reason for -- for the majority leader to call this bill up. i was told verbally by the majority leader as short a time

1:44:22 to 1:44:42( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: as three weeks ago that upon completion of consideration of the defense appropriations bill, that this legislation would be brought to the floor. then a week later i was told, no, that's not going to be the case. so i've been waiting for as soon as practicable and so have

1:44:43 to 1:45:03( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: millions of americans looking for cheaper high-price prescription drugs. the majority leader also stated in his letter -- quote -- "if this issue is not addressed during the full senate's consideration of comprehensive health i will move to proceed to s. 1232 before the end of the

1:45:04 to 1:45:25( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: year." the majority leader of the senate assured me that it would be taken up after completion of the department of defense appropriations bill, which we have completed. given the fact that it's possible that the hea reform bill will be brought up under a truncated, pressure time

1:45:26 to 1:45:46( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: line, i have little faith of in-depth consideration of prescription drug import legislation will come about. therefore, i have no choice but to bring this issue up today as an amendment to appropriations bill. in the 2008 election cycle, pharmaceutical companies gave almost $30 million in campaign contributions to members of congress.

1:45:47 to 1:46:09( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: just this year, according to an articl published i the prescription drug industry has given more than $1 million to republicans and democrats. and the companies whip up their protectors in congress each time we bring forward legislation to help americans get the imported prescription drugs they need. earlier this year, i, email sent by the top lobbyists

1:46:10 to 1:46:32( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: for the pharmaceutica and manufacturers of america, known as phrma, which stated, quote -- bill today. unless we get some significant movement, the full-blown dorgan or vitter bill will pass. we're trying to get senator dorgan to back down.

1:46:33 to 1:46:53( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: calling the white house and senator reid. our understanding is senator mccain has said he will regardless. please make sure your staff is fully engaged in this process. this is real." unquote. that was an email from the lobbyists of phrma who have given millions and millions and millions in campaign contribution

1:46:54 to 1:47:15( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: well, gue what? in the immortal words of jack nicholson, i'm back. i'm back on the senate floor, trying to help millions of americans who have lost a are struggling to put food on the table by giving them the opportunity to save on their prescription drugs immediately. recent a deal with the pharmaceutical company to further protect its profits.

1:47:16 to 1:47:37( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: the deal the head of the company's trade association who cashed in for millions of dollars once he wrote the medicare prescription drug benefit congressman. he was quoted in an article in "the new york times" published august 6, 2009, stating that the

1:47:38 to 1:48:00( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: white house, quote -- "wanted a big player to come in and s the bar for everybody unquote. the same article quote -- "mr the white house throughout, assented to decisions to move away from ideas, like the government negotiation of prices or the impor

1:48:01 to 1:48:24( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: drugs from canada. the $80 billion in savings would be over a mr. president, analyze that comment by the head lobbyist of one of the most powerful lobbies in washington. he is saying house agreed to move away -- in other words, not support ideas

1:48:25 to 1:48:47( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: like government negotiation of prices. government negotiation of prices is absolutely necessary. we drug bill, and it is reduced costs -- it in other words, that pharmaceutical companies would have to compete for medicare contracts. one would think that's an obvious solution to down costs.

1:48:48 to 1:49:08( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: and the importation of cheaper dru from canada. here everybody is talking about reducing health care costs, and we know that importation of expensive drugs would save health care costs for the american consumer. but the white house app according to mr. tauzin, agreed that they would not support

1:49:09 to 1:49:32( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: importation of less expensive drugs from canada. a remarkable comment. you know, and people wonder why the tea parties are going on, why the approval rating of congress is so amazing. the frazier institute 2008 that canadians paid on average 53% less than americans

1:49:33 to 1:49:54( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: for identical brand name drugs. specifically, the institute found that the most commonly prescribed brand name drug, lipitor, is 40% less in canada. crestor is 57% less in canada. and the popular arthritis drug celebrex is 62% less expensive

1:49:55 to 1:50:15( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: in canada. americans would love a 60% off coupon for prescription drugs and deserve such a dispoint now more than ever. i have been working on this issue for many years, and i will continue to do so. americans should not have to wait a day longer for relief from higher prices for drugs. inexplicably, the majority

1:50:16 to 1:50:37( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: leader consideration of this needed legislation which has now forced me to offer an amendment on the current appropriations bill. however, i feel it's necessary to protect all americans' interests in obtaining affordable prescription drugs. the amendment states that no nds can be used to prosecute those who seek to import prescription drugs that have

1:50:38 to 1:50:58( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: been approved by the f.d if the big drug companies are getting an $80 billion savings, shouldn't we give a savings to american consumers? why not now? now, mr. president, again, i want to say that there is going to be a point of order raised on this bill indignation, people will say it doesn't belong on an

1:50:59 to 1:51:19( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: appropriations bill. we just finished a defense appropriations bill loaded, loaded -- and i'll have a list of them -- of unauthorized appropriations on that bill. every appropriations bill that we take up has unauthorized

1:51:20 to 1:51:40( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: appropriations ranging from 300,000 -- from $300,000 for a museum in nebraska to the addition of of $2.5 billion. so the argument, the argument that somehow we shouldn't be taking up this legislation on this bill flies in the face of what has been common practice around here even though i don't

1:51:41 to 1:52:01( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: agree with it. and let me say if i had full and complete confidence that this amendment would get a full and complete airing as an amendment on the health care bill, i will be glad to withdra i will be glad to withdraw this amendment if we have assurance

1:52:02 to 1:52:22( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: that this -- this amendment will be taken up on the health care bill. there's all kinds of things th are going to be done in passage of the health care reform legislation, so-called, on the floor of the senate. so carolina here. i have appreciated his efforts for a long time.

1:52:23 to 1:52:44( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: he and i have been working on this for a long, long time. and it's a fact that i received the word that this bill would be taken up, and it's happened twice. i must say it's never happened to me before in the years that i

1:52:45 to 1:53:07( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: have been a member of the united states senate. mr. president, i ask unani consent that "the new york times" article of augus6, 2009, "white house aff on drug costs," be entered into the record. the presiding of objection. mr. mccain: i also

1:53:08 to 1:53:28( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: unanimous consent that the record -- senator reid to senator snowe, senator dorgan, and to me be entered in the record at this time as well. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mccain: mr. president, i yield the floor -- i want t say

1:53:29 to 1:53:50( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: again we have been told time after time that this legislation it has not. i do not kno majority leader will reconciliation, fill up the tree, vote on cloture, make this amendment nongermane. i have no confidence. if i have the confidence that this amendment will be taken up

1:53:51 to 1:54:12( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: in a regular order fashion and have some confidence that we can get it done. in the absence of that, mr. president, i will seek a vote on this amendment. and point of order on this amendment, let no one be fooled.

1:54:13 to 1:54:32( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: it's not b want to violate the budget rules of the senate because they violated in every possible way in previous appropriations bills to the tune of dollars. so, mr. president, i yie

1:54:40 to 1:54:55( Edit History Discussion )

John McCain: floor. thpresiding officer: the clerk will call thal roll.