[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H5473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MEDICARE REFORM IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS

  (Ms. HART asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a Medicare reform that 
will actually help our seniors.
  The Republican House, along with the Senate, have worked on plans 
that will help provide prescription drug coverage to seniors. I have 
spent the last year in my district in western Pennsylvania in different 
forums with groups telling me what they need.
  What we know in Pennsylvania is that prescription drug assistance is 
necessary. We have been giving it to low-income seniors for years. 
However, middle income seniors, those who one would think are fairly 
well off, are finding it very difficult to pay for these prescription 
drugs.
  What I learned is those forums is we need to help them. Our plan does 
this. It makes sure that catastrophic expenses for prescription drugs 
are going to be covered for these senior citizens.
  We also improve Medicare, making sure that it provides proper access 
to home health care, so that families can stay together in their later 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, our goal is to make sure that the quality of life for 
our seniors is better, that they can have access to prescription drugs 
which they can pay for. That is our goal. That is what we are going to 
give in our plan.

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