[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H11520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, over the next couple of days, 
in a very rushed and possibly confused effort, this body will bring to 
the floor a Medicare bill. When we talk to our seniors across the 
Nation, they believe that this is in response to their desire to have a 
real, guaranteed Medicare prescription drug benefit. But, Mr. Speaker, 
what has happened was a closed-door conference with no participation of 
Democrats, and I want to be convinced that we have something that will 
help all of our seniors. We have got privatization of Medicare, 
vouchers for Medicare, big money for pharmaceutical companies, and no 
guaranteed prescription drug benefit.
  President Johnson went out on a limb in 1965 with hardly any 
Republican support and gave a lifespan to our seniors that they could 
never imagine. Shame on this body. Shame on the other body if they take 
this opportunity to destroy Medicare as we know it and as it can be a 
better entity for all. Let us get to work as a bipartisan House, two 
Chambers, producing something that really means a vital lifeline to our 
seniors.

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