[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE IMMEDIATE HELPING HAND DRUG ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2002

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                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 5, 2002

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I believe most of us agree that the 
modernization of the Medicare program must include prescription drug 
coverage for seniors. Senior citizens are right to be concerned about 
having to pay for prescription drugs out of their own pockets and they 
are right to wonder when lawmakers will take action.
  Congress seems poised to take action. But what if? What if Congress 
doesn't pass a Medicare reform bill that includes a drug benefit? What 
if partisan politics cause inaction? Then what?
  I believe the solution lies in my legislation, the ``Immediate 
Helping Hand Prescription Drug Assistance Act of 2002,'' which closely 
mirrors the plan President Bush put forth in early 2001. My bill will 
provide $48 billion over seven years to states to help seniors afford 
prescription drug coverage. This national program is similar to the 
state of Connecticut's ``ConnPACE'' program and other state-funded 
prescription subsidy plans that help seniors purchase medication at a 
low cost.
  Under my legislation, states would receive block grants to provide a 
drug benefit for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, either through the 
creation of new state drug assistance programs or through the expansion 
of existing programs. With this targeted approach, states would be able 
to provide much-needed dollars to drug programs, allowing more of our 
nation's seniors to afford prescription drugs.
  While I would prefer adding a prescription drug benefit to a 
modernized Medicare system, election-year politics may make this task 
virtually impossible. We cannot wait any longer--we must act now to 
provide seniors with a ``helping hand'' toward providing real 
prescription drug coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce this bill with three of my 
colleagues--Mrs. Hart, and Messrs. Kolbe and Manzullo. I urge others 
who truly care about providing prescription drug coverage to our low-
income seniors to cosponsor my Immediate Helping Hand legislation.

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