[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MEDICARE RX 2000 ACT

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4680 and to say 
that today we have seen a clear example of legislating at its worst.
  The Republican leadership of this House has denied the Democrats the 
opportunity to offer a meaningful prescription drug plan which would 
guarantee our senior citizens access to this important benefit under 
Medicare.
  The Republican leadership has issued a ``gag order'' rule, which 
prevents the Democratic members of this institution from offering a 
clear alternative to the legislation which they are calling Medicare 
Prescription Medicine. I say, the bill before us is not that: it is 
less than that.
  Last year, I visited with a number of Senior Citizens centers in the 
First Congressional District in Illinois. Secretary Donna Shalala was 
gracious enough to join me in August in a visit to the senior citizens 
residence at Montgomery Place.
  At every opportunity, the seniors in my district asked me--Is 
Congress going to do something about Medicare, and especially about 
prescription drugs?
  It was abundantly clear from these questions that the senior citizens 
in Chicago's First District--many of whom are living on income below 
the poverty line--that this is an issue of critical importance, to be 
dealt with seriously by this institution. Seriously and deliberately: 
not through political gamesmanship.
  Last year, we were told that the prescription drug issue would have 
to wait until the Republican-initiated tax cut was resolved. And we 
waited. And the senior citizens in our Congressional districts waited.
  Last week, when President Clinton proposed an end to the waiting and 
offered a sound and financially responsible entitlement program to 
provide senior citizens with the prescription drug benefits that they 
need and want, the Republican leadership in the House said ``No.'' They 
said we will consider a minimal proposal that does not even guarantee a 
prescription drug benefit to Medicare recipients.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say again what I said last fall: that the 
Republican majority must give up this ill-conceived plan and give us 
the opportunity to consider a real legislative proposal which will give 
our senior citizens the prescription drug benefits that they need--and 
want.

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