[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 4, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S70-S71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 7. Mr. NELSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 3, setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
years 2018 through 2026; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, add the following:

     SEC.___. BUDGET POINT OF ORDER ON CLOSING THE GAP IN COVERAGE 
                   IN THE MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
       (1) provisions included in health reform legislation to 
     close the gap in coverage (often referred to as the ``donut 
     hole'') in the Medicare prescription drug program under part 
     D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
     10 et seq.) have saved over 5,000,000 seniors across the 
     United States more than $5,000,000,000 and have increased 
     access to lifesaving medications;
       [(2) in Florida, 355,360 seniors saved $351,000,000, or an 
     average of $987 per beneficiary, on prescription drugs in 
     2015; and]
       (3) absent the protections provided by such provisions, 
     seniors will have to choose between their health and other 
     basic necessities, including food and housing.
       (b) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to 
     consider any legislation that repeals the provisions included 
     in health reform legislation to close the gap in coverage in 
     the Medicare prescription drug program

[[Page S71]]

     under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1395w-101 et seq.).
       (c) Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be waived or 
     suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-
     fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative 
     vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly 
     chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of 
     the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this 
     section.

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