[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRESS MUST ACT ON MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, the time has come to end the excuses and 
begin the action on providing a prescription drug benefit for all our 
seniors. The outrageously high cost of prescription drugs is forcing 
people to choose between their medicines and their groceries.
  Congress must act now, because, sadly, we cannot expect the 
pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing and lower their prices. 
It is now the responsibility of this Congress to provide a 
comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit and to ensure that all 
Americans can afford their prescriptions. Our goal should be nothing 
short of a comprehensive benefit.
  The Republican leadership of this Congress has dragged its feet on 
this issue for too long. The American people want a vote, and they want 
it now.
  I call on my colleagues to join together and sign the discharge 
petition to force a vote. This leadership must act now. Our senior 
citizens, who have raised our families, who have worked in our 
factories, who have fought our wars, deserve nothing less than a 
comprehensive drug benefit. The excuses must end and the action must 
begin.

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