[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2] [House] [Page 1853] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]PRESCRIPTION DRUG DEBACLE (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Miami Herald got it right when it described the Republican Medicare prescription drug plan as an ``unmitigated disaster.'' For years, American seniors have been looking for help in paying for their prescription drugs. Republicans chose to pass a confusing law that forces seniors to go outside of their trusted Medicare to receive drug coverage from one of many private insurance plans. We have all heard stories of seniors leaving pharmacies without their drugs after being told their name could not be found in the system. Talk about incompetence. But then again, this prescription drug plan is another sorry example of how congressional Republicans have turned this House over to the special interests. Republicans chose to help the pharmaceutical and insurance companies rather than help the seniors who desperately need assistance with skyrocketing drug prices. Democrats have a plan to take this House back from the special interests so we do not have another prescription drug debacle in the future. ____________________