My staff has worked with their staff over the past several months to try to meet some additional concerns which have subsequently been voiced. But, frankly, my patience is wearing very thin. They have shown no willingness to compromise, no willingness to enter into good-faith negotiations. I am more than willing to see additional clarifying language added to this amendment in conference. I believe strongly that the core of the amendment must remain and that efforts to either remove this amendment or to gut it are both inexplicable and reprehensible, and I am determined not to let this happen.
Antiretroviral drugs can work to improve the quality and length of life.
The United States has the power to make these lifesaving drugs more affordable and more accessible to Africans. We should not turn our backs, and the greed of the pharmaceutical industry should not stop us. I am absolutely determined that if a conference report comes to this floor without this amendment, Senator Feingold and I, and I hope others, will join together and filibuster this report.