THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Contents Display

[Page: H3610]  GPO's PDF
---

   The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to the order of the House of January 23, 2002, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.

   Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with all of my colleagues and all of the people across America who support a real prescription drug program for seniors. I understand the concerns that some express for the need to reform Medicare , and I agree. But I believe that prescription drug coverage for seniors should be an integral part of the Medicare program.

   We are aware that since its creation Medicare has remained stagnant, while advances in medicine have grown rapidly. We are aware that even our fundamental vision of medicine has dramatically changed from diagnosis and treatment to preventive care. Today, due to our realization of the need for modification and reform of Medicare , to our seniors, which has been an overwhelming process of paperwork with worries about reimbursement and regulations, it is not a form of security as it was once thought to be. Medicare reform is necessary, but the time is now to listen to our seniors and to give them what they have been requesting, that we give them financial relief and provide them with a prescription drug plan that will actually cut their monthly prescription drug expenses. It has been stated on the floor of this House a number of times that we have seniors choosing between food and drugs, splitting their prescription in half and denying themselves other medical care due to the cost of their monthly prescription drug costs.

   In fact, seniors are declaring bankruptcy at a record pace due in large part to the rising cost of health care. We need a prescription drug coverage that covers all seniors. It is not just our poorest seniors who are having problems paying for their prescription drugs. It is also middle-class seniors who are struggling with the burden of outrageous drug costs.

   As Members of Congress, we need to ensure that we provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit that is voluntary, universal and accessible. No senior should be denied a benefit based on where he or she lives or what his or her income is. We see our European neighbors offering their seniors drugs at half the cost of what American companies are charging. American seniors are being encouraged to travel overseas or across our borders to Canada and Mexico just to save money on the same prescription drug they can get in the United States. This is outrageous and absurd and should shed more light on the importance of why this great Nation needs a serious drug plan for seniors.

   Once again we need to let our seniors know that we hear them loud and clearly. We need to let our seniors

[Page: H3611]  GPO's PDF

THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     THIS CR ISSUE     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           Next Document     New CR Search
Prev Hit        Back              Prev Document     HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Daily Digest      Help
                Contents Display