[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6566-H6567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR SENIORS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening as I have on too many 
occasions to speak out about the issue of Medicare coverage for 
prescription drugs. I say too many because the time is up for this 
Congress to act and to modernize Medicare to cover the way health care 
is provided today.
  We have the most wonderful health care system in the world. I know a 
gentleman who takes a pill once a month instead of having open heart 
surgery. The pill costs $400. Medicare will cover the surgery. Medicare 
will not cover the pill. We have got to change and modernize Medicare 
so that our seniors are not left in the situation of getting up in the 
morning and saying do I eat today, do I get my breakfast, or do I get 
my medicine? Too many seniors in this country find themselves in that 
situation.
  I have been conducting a prescription drug fairness campaign in 
Michigan now for a year. I set up a hotline, have asked seniors to 
write, to call, to share with me their situations so we can put names 
and faces on this problem and encourage, plead and beg with this 
Congress to act now.

[[Page H6567]]

  I would like today to once again read a letter. This one is from my 
hometown of Lansing. Jackie Billion wrote to me, and I would like to 
share with you this letter:
  ``Dear Debbie:
  ``I live alone in a subsidized ground floor apartment. I'm 70 years 
old and have osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and 
fymalogy. I also have macular degeneration. I'm legally blind in the 
left eye. Last week, I spent 2 days at Beaumont Hospital.
  ``I receive $645 a month and quite often I have to decide whether to 
get some of my prescriptions or eat. I hope and pray that seniors will 
receive prescription drug coverage soon.
  ``Thank you, Jackie Billion.''
  I thank Jackie for sharing these comments with me and for speaking 
out on behalf of literally millions of seniors that have the same 
situation that she has today.
  This Congress has the opportunity with the best economy in a 
generation to fix this if we have the political will to do it. If we 
are willing to stand up to those who are fighting us, who are not 
understanding or caring about what is happening to Jackie Billion, we 
can fix this and modernize Medicare for our seniors and for those who 
will be the next generation of seniors. I would call on the Congress 
again to take this opportunity, the best economy in a generation, 
budget surpluses that we have not seen in my lifetime, and place a 
priority on modernizing Medicare to cover costs of prescription drugs 
so that seniors like Jackie Billion will not have to worry about 
choosing between their meals and their medicine.

                          ____________________