[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 41 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to speak on 
behalf of Ohio's seniors and America's seniors.
  Mr. Speaker, about 14 million low-income seniors, 438,000 of them in 
Ohio alone, will now be receiving their medications for a mere $2 to 
$5. They understand that this new law, the new law about Medicare 
reform and prescription drugs, is a step in the right direction. The 
countless baby boomers who devote portions of their monthly paycheck to 
help buy grandma and grandpa's medicine, they understand that this 
expansion of Medicare is important. They know that when they are able 
to devote a little less money to prescription medicines for their 
parents, they might be able to devote a little more of that money to 
their kids' college tuition.

                              {time}  1945

  The many older Americans who have experienced a tragic illness that 
requires a litany of medications, they understand the peace of mind 
that this law provides to the catastrophic coverage. Because of this 
law, the cost of their many, many medicines is kept at a minimum, 
instead of spiraling off into infinity.
  The millions of seniors who live in rural areas across America and 
doctors who serve them, they understand the benefits of this new law, 
especially the increased financial assistance to rural providers.
  The hundreds of patient organizations who endorsed and support this 
new law, groups like AARP, the American Medical Association and the 
Alzheimer's Association, they understand that the law represents a good 
first step in improving the lives of millions and millions of patients.
  I could go on and on, showing the countless benefits of this new law. 
Instead, I will boil it down into the simplest of terms: while this 
plan may not provide the entire solution for every senior's particular 
medical and financial problem, it does provide some solutions to the 
substantial number of seniors who formerly were choosing between food 
and medicine, gasoline and medicine, heating fuel and medicine. Those 
choices were untenable.
  The law is not 100 percent perfect, but it is 100 percent more than 
what seniors had before, which was nothing. Unfortunately, there are 
some who do not share the same mind set. Indeed, there are small group 
of obstructionists who seek to mislead seniors about this new law, 
instead of informing them about how to use it to their advantage. Their 
goal is to scare, instead of to educate; and their tactics aim to 
thwart instead of to improve. It is really sad.
  A prime example is the left-leaning Families USA, who have taken 
their MediScare campaign across the country. In fact, they are 
scheduled to be in my home State of Ohio during the coming weeks.
  To the seniors in my home State and to the seniors across the country 
who will be subject to the half-truths that Families USA and their 
allies will be pushing, I will say, beware of those who peddle fear and 
distrust. The flashy videos and the shiny brochures that these groups 
will provide will do nothing but tell you what is wrong with this new 
law. They will tear it down and trash the very thing that seniors have 
been pleading Congress to do for years, add prescription drug coverage 
to Medicare. They will not bat an eyelash nor turn the slightest shade 
of red while they claim there is absolutely nothing good about this new 
law.
  Mr. Speaker, I have too much faith in Ohio's seniors. I know that 
they will not be used as pawns in the politicization of a new law of 
the land. I know that our seniors will take the time to learn more 
about this law, and they will like what they see. They will understand 
that Congress acted to improve the quality of their lives. This is a 
good first step. They will understand that groups who scare them about 
what a law does not do are not helpful nor productive, and that the 
people who instruct them about what a law does are actually trying to 
make a difference in their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to be to Ohio seniors one of those who helps 
them, helps them understand what this law does do for them. I want to 
be part of that productive group, that group that knows that progress 
comes in incremental steps and understands that obstructing and 
thwarting accomplishes nothing, that group that looks for solutions, 
not partisan points.
  Passing a Medicare drug plan and getting it signed into law with 
President Bush's cooperation is finally a step forward for this 
Nation's seniors. Let us not ever step back.

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