[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3927-S3928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 74--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
  CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION PROVIDING MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WITH 
                 OUTPATIENT PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

  Mr. DAYTON (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. 
Rockefeller) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Finance.

                               S. Res. 74

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that, by not 
     later than June 20, 2001, the Senate should consider 
     legislation that provides medicare beneficiaries with 
     outpatient prescription drug coverage.

  Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I am introducing a resolution which 
expresses the sense of the Senate that the Senate will consider 
legislation providing prescription drug coverage for senior citizens by 
June 20, 2001. The resolution does not specify what form of coverage 
will be considered; rather, it simply commits us to scheduling 
consideration of this important legislation, and hopefully its passage, 
in the near future.
  Many of us have promised the senior citizens of our states that 
Congress would enact this kind of program. As you know, last year the 
106th Senate was unable to reach agreement on whether to provide 
prescription drug coverage directly through Medicare, through 
subsidized insurance policies, or another mechanism. While these 
disagreements stymied any one measure's passage, it appeared that an 
overwhelming majority of Senators then supported some form of coverage.
  I believe it is imperative that we get a program of financial 
assistance for hard-pressed senior citizens quickly enacted. While I 
have my own preference for direct, voluntary coverage under Medicare, I 
am most concerned that some form of financial assistance be provided to 
desperate senior citizens in

[[Page S3928]]

Minnesota and across the country, whose lives are being traumatized by 
the unaffordable costs of their prescription medicines. Their economic 
security, their emotional well-being, and their physical health are 
being threatened, even ruined, by ever-increasing costs over which they 
have no control.
  I respectfully request your support for this resolution when it comes 
to the floor for a vote.

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