[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19785-19786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise once again to focus attention on 
the topic of prescription drugs. The topic of affordable prescription 
drugs for seniors is a critical one for families in Michigan and across 
the nation. Last summer I set up a hot line in Michigan asking those 
who had stories to tell to call and share them with me, and also for 
individuals to write me letters and send me copies of their 
prescription drug bills.
  I have received hundreds from across the state, and I have heard 
heartbreaking stories from seniors about their struggles--about having 
to choose between putting food on the table and paying the utility bill 
or being able to get their medications. Because this is such a 
pervasive problem, it is critical that we pass prescription drug 
coverage under Medicare, that modernizes the Medicare program to cover 
the way health care is provided today.
  On April 12 of this year, I led an hour of debate on the topic of 
prescription drug coverage for senior citizens, I read three letters 
from around the state from seniors who shared their personal stories. 
At that time, I made a commitment to continue to read a different 
letter every week until the House enacts reform. This week I will read 
a letter form Paul and Lois Van Valkenburgh of Buckley, Michigan:

       Dear Congresswoman Stabenow: You say three out of four 
     Americans do not have adequate prescription drug coverage. My 
     wife and I have no prescription drug coverage; how is that 
     for not having adequate coverage? We have never found 
     prescription drug insurance we could afford.
       Attached to this letter are copies of our prescription drug 
     bills. They cost us over $2,200 per year, which we really 
     cannot afford. If we had prescription drug coverage like 
     people [who are not retired] (and make much more money than 
     we), then we could afford to pay the premium on insurance 
     coverage for prescription drugs. But the premium has got to 
     be affordable and the deductible reasonable. . . .
       Anything you can do to either lower the prices or get 
     retired people a prescription drug insurance that's 
     affordable will be appreciated.
       Thank you for giving us this opportunity to talk to someone 
     about this awful situation.
           Sincerely yours,
                                    Paul and Lois Van Valkenburgh.

  The Van Valkenburghs have a combined income of $13,500 a year. Under 
the Democratic prescription drug plan which I have cosponsored they 
would be entitled to significant help with their drug costs. I would 
like to thank the Van Valkenburghs for sharing their story, and on 
their behalf and the others that need this assistance, I will continue 
to work to pass

[[Page 19786]]

an affordable, voluntary prescription drug benefit for all of our 
seniors during the 106th Congress.

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