[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17135]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               NEVADA'S PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN WILL WORK

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, last week Vice President Gore criticized 
the State of Nevada for its innovative prescription drug plan for 
seniors.
  Mr. Gore said it would not work. Mr. Gore said it was a complete 
failure. He also said insurance companies would not participate.
  Well, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully say that Mr. Gore's 
statements about Nevada's prescription drug plan were false and 
misleading, and Mr. Gore should apologize to the hard-working people of 
Nevada.
  At least five insurance companies have asked to serve as the vendor 
for the State's program. The State of Nevada will provide the selected 
insurance company with help and, in turn, Nevada's low-income seniors 
will truly benefit from reduced prescription costs, starting next year.
  Providing an insurance-based prescription drug benefit can work and 
Nevada is leading the way. It is time to get Washington, D.C. out of 
the medicine cabinets of American seniors. It is time to follow 
Nevada's lead and provide a voluntary, flexible, and affordable 
prescription drug plan under Medicare.

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