[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 84 (Friday, June 21, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H3780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H3780]]
 DEMOCRAT PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN TAKES CARE OF SENIORS' NEEDS, UNLIKE 
                            REPUBLICAN PLAN

  (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, the committee has 
completed their markup on the prescription drug benefit last night, and 
what we are now confronted with is having to pass legislation that may 
or may not provide prescription drug benefits to the elderly in this 
country. It may or may not provide the insurance that they need to 
purchase those drugs. Those drugs may or may not be available, based 
upon whether the insurance companies think those drugs are too 
expensive.
  We just went through this with our senior population, with the HMOs. 
People who thought they had health insurance now find out they do not 
have health insurance because the HMOs have left the field. People who 
thought they were covered in rural America now find they are not 
covered in rural America. Why? Because the insurance companies decided 
the population was too expensive, and they were not going to cover them 
and gave them back to the government.
  That is why the Democrats put forth a program where the prescription 
drugs were guaranteed, the drugs Members need or their families need to 
take care of their illnesses in the twilight years of their lives will 
be there, will be guaranteed, and will be paid for. That is far 
different from the Republican plan that is made out of Swiss cheese and 
does not serve the interests of the elderly of this country.

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