[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H739-H740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

  (Mr. ROSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H740]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I was pleased to read in Wednesday's New 
York Times that my Republican colleagues are working on a prescription 
drug benefit that will encourage the use of generic drugs.
  In January, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson) and I 
introduced a bipartisan bill in the House that would create a 
voluntary, but guaranteed, Medicare prescription drug benefit for all 
seniors. We call it Medicare Part D.
  Under our plan, seniors would pay an affordable monthly premium, an 
annual $250 deductible, and a 20 percent co-pay on the cost of their 
medicine. This 20 percent co-pay will truly promote the use of lower-
cost generic drugs and provide real savings for our seniors.
  Our bill gives seniors the freedom to choose their pharmacy and their 
medicines.
  Madam Speaker, the Emerson-Ross bill is a comprehensive, common-sense 
plan. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this bipartisan 
legislation that will truly modernize Medicare to include medicine for 
all seniors.

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