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Floor Speech

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Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I thank Senator Mullin for yielding.

I support the motion to send this bipartisan package that you are speaking about to the President.

Obviously, the provisions that Senator Mullin, my friend from Oklahoma, is discussing are incredibly important. There are other provisions in this bill, too, that have bipartisan support.

This bill would cut costs for prescription drugs through a bipartisan provision that I worked on with Senator Paul to speed up getting generic drugs to market.

Now, I understand Senator Sanders' perspective about wanting to attach to this package increased funding for our country's community health centers. They are incredibly important, lifesaving resources to millions of Americans. So as we are talking about saving lives here, we have to recognize the role that community health centers play in that.

They provide vital services in our communities, and I fully support passing this funding increase for them through the House and the Senate as soon as possible. But as I understand it, the House will not act to do so at this time.

So as disappointed as I am that the House isn't ready to support increased funding for community health centers, I also believe that it is important to take action on this package now to help address pediatric cancer and lower prescription drug costs, so I am disappointed that this bill will not move forward today.

Having said that, I hope we can come together and find a way to continue to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to get this package over the finish line next month.

Thank you for yielding.

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