[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2047-S2048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HEALTH CARE IN THE 108TH CONGRESS

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, this Congress will address a number of very 
serious issues this year, but there is perhaps no issue we will discuss 
with greater long-term implications than health care.
  Last year, my colleagues and I came to the Senate floor to talk about 
and debate the pressing need for an affordable, universal, and 
voluntary prescription drug benefit for America's seniors. 
Unfortunately, our efforts were not successful, and our Nation's 
seniors continue to live in fear that the loss of their health could 
lead to the loss of their homes.
  For the past several years, I have also tried to address the growing 
problem of the uninsured: Every day, 41 million Americans live, work, 
and go to school without health coverage. While the economic downturn 
this past year has caused many families to tighten their belts, it has 
had more serious results for almost 2 million men, women, and children 
who have lost their health insurance along with their jobs.
  Last year, the Senate Budget Committee chairman's mark included a 
$500 billion health fund, to be used to modernize Medicare with the 
addition of a

[[Page S2048]]

prescription drug benefit, and to reduce the number of uninsured in 
this country. With annual prescription drug cost inflation, any 
legislation to address the long-neglected need of Medicare seniors for 
an affordable prescription drug benefit this year will consume at least 
as much. Additionally, growing State fiscal woes coupled with the 
increase in the number of uninsured Americans will require a 
substantial Federal response.
  With the threat of war and ongoing economic downturn, it may be 
difficult to consider new initiatives this year. But we must. The 
current economic climate is all the more reason to focus attention and 
resources on covering the uninsured now, when the need is great. In 
addition, every year that passes without adding a prescription drug 
benefit to Medicare, seniors continue to suffer, and the cost of adding 
such a benefit increases substantially. We must make every effort to 
provide a very real benefit for our Nation's seniors and uninsured, and 
I urge my colleagues to support a sufficient sum to make these goals a 
reality this year.

                          ____________________