[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E143-E144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG NEGOTIATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug 
Negotiation Act of 2007. This quality, sound bill enjoys support not 
only from Members from both side of the aisle, but also from the 
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the 
Consumer's Union, the AFL-CIO and Families USA. Most important, the 
majority of Americans are in favor of the principles set forth in this 
bill.
  For generations, among Democrats' top priorities has been to make 
healthcare more affordable for all Americans. I stand here today, as an 
exceedingly proud cosponsor of this bill that will take steps toward 
accomplishing just this. H.R. 4 fights for what is fair and right for 
our Nation's seniors, and fixes the Medicare prescription drug program 
as we know it today.
  The current prescription drug plan has kept costs high and created 
needless confusion for the 22.5 million seniors who chose to enroll in 
Medicare Part D. This number doesn't even begin to contemplate the 
millions who did not enroll, perhaps because of the complexity of the 
benefit.
  The present Medicare Part D forbids the government from negotiating 
affordable drug prices at the expense and well being of our seniors. 
So, while big companies like WalMart receive deals on prescription 
drugs, the American people can not. According to findings from Families 
USA, the law's current ban on bargaining for lower drug prices had 
caused seniors on Medicare to pay significantly more for their drugs.
  The history behind the current defective drug plan, introduced by 
Republicans in 2003, was one of the most corruptive abuses of the 
legislative process in all of our lifetimes. In the middle of the 
night, while most Americans were sleeping, Republicans snuck this bill 
in, loaded with giveaways for the drug and insurance companies. And 
using their signature scare tactics, the Republican leadership bullied 
the rest of their party to pass this bill after holding a 15 minute 
vote open for 3 hours!
  Mr. Speaker, such an abuse of legislative power is immoral and wrong. 
I am pleased to say that such abuse ended when Democrats took up the 
gavel.
  With Democrats in the driver's seat, seniors across America will be a 
part of new drug plan. A drug plan that will be tailored to America's 
seniors--and not the big drug companies who are now reporting record 
profits.
  The current Medicare Prescription drug program is not the best we can 
do for our seniors. Improvement clearly needed to be made to Medicare 
Part D, to make it more affordable and fair for its beneficiaries.
  The comprehensive and affordable plan being passed today is an 
important step forward toward alleviating seniors' prescription drug 
price concerns. The bill repeals the provision that bans the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services (HRS) from negotiating with drug companies 
for lower prices, and instead requires the Secretary to develop a 
workable negotiation process to secure affordable drug prices. Now, for 
instance, where private plans have failed to rein in outrageous drug 
prices, the Secretary will be allowed to use his bargaining power with 
the drug companies.
  Contrary to Republicans' claim that this bill would destroy the free 
market system, today's New York Times editorial page notes that, the 
bill ``is sufficiently flexible to allow older Americans to benefit 
from the best efforts of both the government and the private drug 
plans.''
  Moreover, by requiring Medicare to negotiate rates with drug 
companies, the leftover

[[Page E144]]

funds can be used to fill in beneficiaries' coverage gap. Reducing the 
gap, known as the doughnut hole, would lower those beneficiaries' out 
of pocket costs.
  But this bill, while imperative and necessary, is only the first step 
towards improving the Medicare system.
  Our seniors deserve a real comprehensive prescription drug plan; one 
that will be simpler, cheaper, more reliable, and with less ``holes'' 
than the former devastating plan.
  My fellow Democrats don't merely have a 100-hour plan to fix the 
rising costs of prescription drugs. We have a long-term agenda on how 
to fix our Nation's heath care system. And we are ready to work with 
the President and Republicans in Congress to provide true relief and 
real choices for all Americans. 

                          ____________________