Today is not a good day for American seniors. AARP members are disappointed with the failure of the Senate to reach agreement on a prescription drug benefit in Medicare.

Over 40 million Medicare beneficiaries and their families were counting on the Senate to make good on a long-standing promise to provide critical relief from the soaring cost of prescription drugs and to make them more affordable to those who need them the most.

Although the Senate has broken its promise to older Americans, there is still time to pick up the pieces. The vote may be over, but the need for protection from high drug costs has not gone away. After several votes on various bills, ninety-nine Senators in all agreed that there should be a prescription drug benefit added to Medicare. But they failed to work together to pass a single plan. Both parties came to a similar level of budget commitment, but couldn't agree on structure.

AARP members, indeed all voters, want and expect bipartisan cooperation from their Senators. They will continue to demand action this year. Our message is clear. It's never too late to do the right thing. When the Senate returns from its August recess, it will be time to get this job done for America's seniors. They will not accept finger pointing, they will not accept deadlock, and they will not accept the failure of Senators to fulfill their promise.