[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2313]]



    PRESCRIPTION DRUG FAIRNESS FOR SENIORS ACT--SUBMITTING RULE FOR 
                           DISCHARGE PETITION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RONNIE SHOWS

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 9, 1999

  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, this is an important day. Soon I will have 
been a Representative for the people of Mississippi's 4th Congressional 
District for a year. Issues great and small have been debated. Our 
budget, F-22's, water and transportation projects, foreign operations 
expenditures are all some of the issues that have been grappled with.
  Our nation continues to reap economic benefits that can not be 
matched. We are a people moving forward. But, can we truly move forward 
if we are leaving some behind?
  Can we turn our backs on our elderly, the very people who stood face 
to face with a Great Depression and the trials and tribulations of war?
  Lucille Bruce is from Clinton, MS. She lives on a fixed income and 
pays in excess of $200 each month for prescription medicine. Ms. Bruce 
says that without her daughter she would have no money to live. She 
wonders how many Senior Americans there are who don't have the type of 
family support she receives.
  Well, Ms. Bruce, sadly there are millions. And it is past time for 
their American family to step forward with the care, support and 
respect they are owed.
  H.R. 664, the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act was 
introduced earlier this year by my friend and colleague, Tom Allen of 
Maine. This legislation will substantially lower the costs of what 
senior citizens pay for prescription drugs.
  Seniors pay much more for prescription drugs as the drug companies' 
``favored customers'' such as the federal government and large HMOs. 
This legislation will allow pharmacies to purchase drugs for Medicare 
beneficiaries at the same rate as the government and large HMO's so our 
grandparents and parents will be ``favored customers'' as well. This is 
only right.
  Our senior citizens should never be forced to choose between buying 
food or buying medicine. They should not have to decide between paying 
the electric bill or paying for the medicine that keeps them healthy.
  Yet, in America today, many seniors are put into that very position. 
This is a shame.
  And, it is also a shame this bill has not been brought forward for 
real consideration. It is a shame to ignore the cost of prescription 
drugs that our senior citizens are burdened with.
  Today, I will offer a resolution to bring H.R. 664 to the floor for a 
vote. If no action is taken within 7 days I will file a discharge 
petition to take my resolution from the Rules Committee and bring H.R. 
664 directly to the floor for a vote.
  Seven days. Just imagine seven days in the life of our senior 
citizens who are struggling to pay bills and enjoy a decent standard of 
living here at the end of the American Century.
  I choose to stand with our senior citizens. I choose to fight for the 
values and principles that I know we all hold close.
  Let's move H.R. 664 forward today. For our seniors, for us all.

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