[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1152-E1153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 2746

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2005

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, in his State of the Union address on February 
27, 2001, President George W. Bush stood in these very chambers and 
correctly stated, ``No senior in America should have to choose between 
buying food and buying prescriptions.'' Unfortunately, two years later, 
Congress passed a bill that did not solve that problem.
  The Medicare Modernization Act fails to protect the eligibility of 
low-income seniors for other Federal assistance programs. The statute 
mandates that use of the transitional discount drug cards will not 
affect eligibility for Federal assistance programs, like food stamps. 
However, such protection is not extended to the permanent prescription 
drug benefit, which will be fully implemented on January 1, 2006.
  On May 4, 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 
notified potential beneficiaries of the Medicare low-income subsidy 
that they may qualify for extra help paying prescription costs. 
However, this potential extra help comes with a caveat: If you qualify 
for extra help, your food stamps may decline. Recipients of the minimum 
food stamp benefit will see their benefits end.
  It is unconscionable to offer a ``low-income subsidy'' that is 
contingent on beneficiaries forgoing another necessary commodity. The 
lowest income seniors should not have to choose between getting help 
with their expenses for prescription drugs or food.
  Today, I introduced H.R. 2746, legislation that would fix this 
problem with the Medicare

[[Page E1153]]

Modernization Act. It is a simple correction that extends to the 
permanent drug benefit the same protection for Federal assistance 
program eligibility provided in the transitional drug benefit. I 
encourage Members to support this bill.
  Congress and the Bush Administration have repeatedly affirmed that 
low-income seniors should not have to choose between food and 
prescription drugs. Our actions as a body have not lived up to that 
commitment. Congress should act quickly to fix this flaw in the 
Medicare Modernization Act so that the most vulnerable among us are not 
faced with an impossible choice.

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