[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AMERICA'S SENIORS DESERVE FAIRNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that drug manufactures 
all across the nation have and continue to engage in the unfortunate 
practice of price discrimination. On the brunt end of this 
discrimination is our senior citizens, a constituency who by no means 
deserves this ill and insensitive treatment. Today, seniors who 
purchase their own prescription drugs are forced to pay twice as much 
for their drugs as the federal government and Health Maintenance 
Organizations (HMOs). This financial burden must be eliminated and this 
discrimination must come to an end. Fairness for our seniors can 
prevail by Congress addressing this situation now.
  Price discrimination on the part of drug manufacturers in this 
country has brought devastating effects on older Americans. Acting on 
their vulnerability, drug manufacturers have taken advantage of older 
Americans while giving breaks to their most favored customers: the 
federal government and HMOs. The exorbitant cost of prescription drugs 
forces seniors to choose between buying food to feed themselves, paying 
the electric bill to warm their home in the brutal winter, and paying 
for the medications they so desperately need to stay healthy and well. 
It is not fair to put seniors, who have limited and fixed incomes, in a 
situation of having to choose between life's necessities. Allowing this 
discrimination and unfairness to continue is simply wrong and only 
exacerbates this situation.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a solution to this problem. Legislation crafted 
by my colleagues, Tom Allen, Jim Turner, and Marion Berry, will reduce 
prescription drug prices for older Americans by over 40 percent without 
any significant cost to the federal government. I am a proud co-sponsor 
of this important legislation, H.R. 664, the Prescription Drug Fairness 
for Seniors Act, which relies on market forces to lower the costs of 
prescription drugs for seniors. The bill would allow pharmacists to 
purchase drugs for senior citizens at the same price the federal 
government purchases prescription drugs through the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, Medicaid, or other programs. My constituents, 
especially the seniors on Guam know all to well the dilemma of 
acquiring needed medication without sacrificing the other essential 
necessities of life, strongly support this legislation and have called 
upon me to urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly thank my colleague, Congressman 
Tom Allen, for his diligent work in bringing this issue to our 
attention, of his work in sponsoring this legislation and for his 
unwavering commitment to older Americans. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope 
that the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act receives its due 
consideration and reaches the floor for passage as soon as possible. 
Our senior citizens deserve no less than affordable medication and a 
Congress that cares.

                          ____________________