The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Arkansas is recognized for 5 minutes.

   Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I don't really know where to begin. My wife is a pharmacist. We own a family pharmacy back home in Prescott, Arkansas. Just minutes ago she shared with me by telephone that she had to turn her television set off because she has heard so many untruths and misinformation coming from the Republican side of the aisle during this debate here today.

   But let me be clear about this: A ``yes'' vote for the motion to recommit is a vote for the big drug manufacturers, and a ``no'' vote on the motion to recommit is a vote for America's seniors. Now, today we are trying to correct a wrong that occurred back in 2003. Let us reflect back for a moment.

   We passed the so-called Medicare part D prescription drug benefit back in 2003, some 500 pages, gave us less than a day to read it and somewhere around 50 or 60, they actually, the Republican leadership actually put language in the bill that says the Federal Government shall be prohibited from negotiating with the big drug manufacturers to bring down the high cost to medicine for America's seniors.

   That is in the bill, and that is what today we are fixing, and then, to be sure the big drug manufacturers would not have to lower their prices, the Republican leadership back in 2003, they decided that they would spread all 43 million Medicare beneficiaries, over 30 companies, offering more than 1,200 private plans, so no plan and no company would be able to negotiate on behalf of very many seniors. That is what they did.

   Now we know, Mr. Speaker, now we know why back in 2003 the vote on this occurred at 3:00 in the morning. Now we know why the vote took 3 hours for passage.

   Today, Mr. Speaker, we are letting the sun shine on our seniors, and on the way we conduct business in this Chamber as we hold the big drug manufacturers accountable and bring down the high cost of medicine for America's seniors.