[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                     PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARE BENEFIT

  (Mr. RODRIGUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is shameful that our citizens are 
still without workable prescription drug coverage. Because of the rapid 
increase of prescription drug use, as we know, it is critical and 
needed; and at the time we established Medicare, prescriptions were not 
used as much, but now we understand that those senior citizens do need 
prescription drugs to be able to take care of their illnesses. We need 
to be there for them to make sure that we will get that prescription. 
It is unfortunate, but I keep hearing stories about our senior citizens 
that continue to make decisions between buying food and buying 
prescription that they need. I hear from the spouses where they 
sometimes go without prescriptions to get their husbands their 
prescriptions.
  We as a community and as Americans need to make sure that our seniors 
have accessible prescription drug coverage. And as Democrats we support 
a prescription drug benefit coverage for all seniors that would be 
voluntary and be able to have access to them. No seniors should be 
faced with the prospects of not being able to afford medicine, 
regardless of income. We need to be there for our seniors. They have 
been there for us.

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