[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 59 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, I convened Medicare 
town hall meetings with senior citizens in my district that I represent 
in the towns of South Holland and Joliet, Illinois, to listen to the 
seniors, the folks back home, about what they feel is needed in a 
Medicare prescription drug benefit, the proposal we now have before us 
in Congress.
  What I heard, Mr. Speaker, were some horror stories about the cost of 
drugs today for our seniors. In fact, I met with one gentleman from 
South Holland who spends $8,000 a year just for four injections. I 
heard from a retired steelworker in Joliet who wanted choices in drug 
plans, including the option to keep his current plan provided by his 
former employer if it is better.
  A widow from Calumet City told me about the times that she will go 
without breakfast or lunch just to save $15 or $20 so she can afford 
her arthritis medication.
  These are heart wrenching stories, Mr. Speaker. But one thing I heard 
over and over again is that this Congress should work together to solve 
the challenge for modernizing Medicare to include a prescription drug 
benefit.
  We have seen what has happened in the last few years whenever we try 
to work to modernize Medicare. We have seen those who wanted to 
politicize it for partisan purposes using Medi-Scare and poison-pill 
politics.
  Mr. Speaker, let us work together. Let us find a bipartisan way to 
provide prescription drug coverage for our seniors.

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