[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 78 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       LET US TAKE A QUICK POLL: WHO DISAGREES WITH MARSHA BYRUM?

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I have at hand a letter from a young woman 
in Rocky Mount, NC--a letter which no doubt speaks for millions of 
Americans who are fed up with the high taxes they are required to pay 
to support absurd expenditures of the American taxpayers' money.
  The lady's name is Mrs. Marsha H. Byrum, a delightful lady with whom 
I talked by telephone this past Sunday afternoon. Now, Mr. President, I 
will let Mrs. Byrum take it from here:

       Dear Senator Helms: I work in a pharmacy that accepts 
     Medicaid. I understand that the purpose of Medicaid is to 
     help people who cannot afford to pay for their medications. 
     But I find it hard to accept that my Government uses my money 
     and that of other taxpayers to pay for a medication that 
     enables men to have an erection. (The cost of this 
     medication, by the way, is $800.)
       The Medicaid Program also pays for a fertility drug. Why 
     does our Government use the taxpayers' money to pay for 
     fertility drugs to enable women on welfare to get pregnant so 
     that they can bring another child into the world to live on 
     public assistance? (By the way, the cost of a month's supply 
     of this drug is $528.)
       While I'm at it, let me ask still another question: Why 
     does the Federal Government use taxpayers' money to pay for 
     non-injury-related ``beautification'' medications for adults? 
     (These medications cost anywhere from $45 to $60 for a one-
     month supply.) Is this not a luxury item?
       It's fine with me if men and women want to take medicine in 
     order to have erections, to have children and to improve 
     their appearances--if, and this is an important ``if''--if 
     they pay for them out of their own pockets. At least one-
     third of my paycheck goes to the Federal Government which 
     turns right around and pays for such things as I have just 
     described.
       There needs to be some standards. Stop using taxpayers' 
     money to pay for medications like these and confine Federal 
     expenditures to helping people who really need and deserve 
     help.
       I would then feel that my tax money was doing some good for 
     people who really need it and not being wasted.
           Sincerely,
     Marsha H. Byrum.

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