Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003—Resumed

Mr. President, I have been a long-standing supporter of the Olmstead decision to end the institutional bias in care for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, States have been slow to implement this landmark decision. To better help States in this effort, I am proud to say that I am an original cosponsor of Senator HARKIN's MiCASSA legislation, S. 971, the Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act of 2003, a bill to ensure that "the money follows the people" and that true choice is granted for people with disabilities to decide whether they wish to live in their own communities instead of being institutionalized. The bill also provides major Federal resources to assist States with the costs of paying for community-based attendant and support services. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted against the motion to table the Harkin amendment and would have voted in favor of its inclusion in the Medicare prescription drug bill.