[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           SUPPORT THE PRESCRIPTION FAIRNESS ACT FOR SENIORS

  (Ms. STABENOW asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today first in strong support of 
the President's proposals to place the majority of the budget surplus 
into the Social Security Trust Fund and protecting Medicare.
  Social Security and Medicare are cornerstones of our trust, our 
protection of seniors for their future, making sure that they have in 
their retirement the kind of quality of life that they deserve; and it 
is important for the future for our children.
  Today, also as part of the Medicare benefit for our seniors, I am 
rising as a cosponsor of a bill we are introducing today, the gentleman 
from Maine (Mr. Allen) and myself and other Members of our caucus, 
called the Prescription Drug Fairness Act for Seniors. This will allow 
seniors to purchase prescription drugs at a lower cost than they 
currently are able to do.
  Right now, if the Federal Government bulk purchases prescription 
drugs and then allows seniors to buy at a lower cost, this will 
guarantee that seniors are not having to choose between purchasing food 
or their prescription drugs. I would urge my colleagues to support the 
bill.

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