Emergency Health Care Relief Act of 2005

EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE RELIEF ACT OF 2005

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am in the Senate to mention that there is ongoing discussions between the Senator from Iowa, Mr. Grassley, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Finance, and a number of Members who have been concerned about S. 1716, the Emergency Health Care Relief Act of 2005. I fully support the desire of the Senator and members of the Committee on Finance to provide health care relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We have noted that it has about a $9 billion price tag, and we have been in ongoing discussions which I believe will bear fruit with the Senator from Iowa.

It is important to know that the administration also objects to S. 1716, and I ask unanimous consent the letter from Secretary Leavitt be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

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Mr. McCAIN. I say again to my friend from Iowa, I think he does a tremendous job as chairman of our Committee on Finance. He continues to distinguish himself in that role. But I do believe--and we had, I think, a very productive meeting with the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr. Sununu, and Senator Lott, who, obviously, has a very deep and abiding interest in this situation, as well as the Senator from Iowa. I hope we can work out the objections that the administration has, as well as the concerns that others of us have on this issue.

Again, I thank the Senator from Iowa for his diligent efforts in trying to get this legislation done and, at the same time, satisfy the concerns of many who are concerned about the scope of it, as well as his efforts to attempt to satisfy the concerns of the administration.

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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