[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 461 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 461

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the American Association of Retired Persons and the Republican Medicare 
                        prescription drug bill.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 20, 2003

   Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Towns, Mr. Hastings of 
   Florida, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Deutsch, Mr. Serrano, Mr. 
    Hinchey, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Millender-
McDonald, Mr. Markey, Mr. Clay, and Ms. Norton) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
the American Association of Retired Persons and the Republican Medicare 
                        prescription drug bill.

Whereas the American Association of Retired Persons (``AARP'') urged Members of 
        Congress earlier this year to sign a pledge promising to work with their 
        organization in developing and passing a stable prescription drug 
        benefit for seniors;
Whereas the Republican Medicare prescription drug bill now supported by the AARP 
        begins the process of privatizing Medicare, which will lead to 
        instability and seniors frequently changing plans in response to private 
        insurers, including HMOs reducing benefits, raising premiums and leaving 
        coverage areas;
Whereas the AARP pledge called for a prescription drug plan that ensures 
        affordable prices be the rule not the exception;
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican drug bill has a gaping $2,800 hole in 
        coverage from $2,200-5,000 worth of medication, and this hole will grow 
        to $5,600 by 2013;
Whereas AARP pledge called for reasonable premiums, deductibles and co-payments 
        to apply to everyone;
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill does not define the premiums into 
        law, thereby allowing private plans to determine the monthly premium 
        that will vary widely around the country;
Whereas the AARP pledge called for prescription drug coverage that will not 
        leave individuals with extraordinary out-of-pocket costs;
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill leaves many seniors with 
        extraordinary out-of-pocket costs, whereby a senior with average drugs 
        costs of $3,155 in a year (average Medicare beneficiary spending in 2006 
        when the bill becomes effective) must spend $2,500 out of his or her own 
        pocket--or nearly 71 percent of the costs;
Whereas the AARP pledge called for reductions in soaring drug costs that will 
        keep the Medicare program affordable;
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill explicitly prohibits the government 
        from negotiation with drug manufacturers to reduce drug prices for 
        beneficiaries;
Whereas the AARP pledge called for extra help for low-income individuals that 
        will guarantee benefits for all who need them; and
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill has less protections than the Senate-
        passed bill for those with low incomes--leaving millions of low-income 
        beneficiaries with no help: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) is outraged that the AARP has reneged on its pledge and 
        is abandoning seniors by supporting the Republican Medicare 
        prescription drug bill;
            (2) urges seniors to hold the AARP accountable for its 
        actions; and
            (3) urges AARP to immediately reverse its decision and 
        oppose the Republican prescription drug bill.
                                 <all>