[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 24361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        COMPILATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG LETTERS FOR HOUSE FLOOR

  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, beginning on April 12, for the 20 weeks 
that the House has been in session, I have read 22 letters from MI 
seniors who desperately need help with their high prescription drug 
costs.
  In that time, I have been pushing consistently for prescription drug 
coverage under Medicare. Our time is nearly up, and we still have not 
passed this important legislation.
  Looking back through the 22 letters that I have read on the House 
floor, I am reminded of why it is so important to modernize Medicare 
and provide prescription drug coverage for seniors.
  From Shirley and Raymond Radcliff, Escanaba: ``We are a couple on a 
fixed income and cannot afford these drugs that continue to escalate. 
Our income cannot keep up with it. Fifteen pills of [one medication] 
are $41.99. I cannot afford that and discontinued taking them . . . A 
two month supply of [another medication] is $82.53. I no longer take 
those either, because I cannot afford them.''
  From Concetta Lisuzzo, Dearborn: ``If you can bring these prices 
[down] I will be very grateful to you. It seems like a visit to the 
doctor adds one more prescription. Please help us, so we won't have to 
make choices between food or prescriptions.''
  From Annabelle Lewis, Alma: ``I stopped taking [my medication] in 
January 1999, having cut pills in half.''
  From Julia Kanopsky, Livonia: ``I just wish the government would take 
an interest in problems like this. To curb high prices, I eat two meals 
a day, and any more hike in health cost, I'll have to go on one meal.''
  From Dolores Graycheck, Indian River: ``Each month we get deeper in 
debt and soon we, like a lot of other people, won't have anything left 
. . . I think it's a shame that our supposed Golden Years aren't Golden 
after all.''
  From Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Crook, Hillsdale: ``We can't go [anywhere] 
or do anything because it takes all our income for the cost to live. 
Some weeks, I wonder how long we can go on. It keeps going up in cost 
and we cannot live.''
  From Harriett Simmons, Detroit: ``We are senior citizens today but 
yesterday we were active, taxpaying citizens. Don't mistreat us now. We 
need protection.''

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