[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H11508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, here is a recap of the Medicare 
Prescription Drug Benefit headlines and highlights: $400 billion cost 
increases to $800 billion, and not one drug was dispensed.
  The program failed to lower the cost of prescription drugs. In fact, 
drug prices continue to outprice inflation.
  The Web site explaining the program did not work and had the wrong 
information.
  When the government sent out the wrong information on the program, 
they sent seniors the wrong information.
  Just this morning, the New York Times reported on delays in 
processing applications for the new drug benefit. Because of these 
delays, seniors may not be getting the identification cards they need 
in time for the January 1st start date, meaning they might not be able 
to get their prescription drugs.
  It is no wonder that President Bush called the benefit program 
perplexing. But what do you expect? This is the same crowd that mangled 
the response to Hurricane Katrina and bungled the early stages of the 
war in Iraq by sending too few troops without proper equipment. It 
seems the Republican Congress, with this President unchecked, could 
mess up a one-car parade. Mr. Speaker, it is time for a change and a 
new set of priorities.

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