[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES BEYOND MEANS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

  (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, Americans already pay more for 
pharmaceuticals; yet prescription drug prices continue to rise that are 
well beyond the means of millions of Americans.
  Seniors are often forced to choose between medication, food, and 
daily living. Should seniors have to suffer because they cannot afford 
overly priced drugs?
  I have held four prescription drug surveys in my district which 
compared prices at different stores of the 12 most commonly used drugs 
by seniors. The surveys revealed that independent mom-and-pop 
pharmacies, such as Oliger's, offer lower prices than the same 
medicines that are charged by drugstore chains.
  Many changes are needed to bring prices down. One factor should not 
be discussed. Large retail chains add to the problem of high drug 
prices because they routinely charge more than the mom-and-pop 
pharmacies. Meanwhile, it is time for Medicare prescription drug 
benefits to take the economic pressure off senior citizens.

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