[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10496]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, Republicans believe that no 
senior citizen or disabled American should be forced to choose between 
buying food or buying the prescription drugs necessary to keep them 
alive.
  Prescription drugs have become a major component of quality health 
care in America, and they have saved and improved many lives.
  But these miracles frequently come with a substantial price tag, one 
that many Medicare recipients on fixed incomes cannot afford without 
insurance.
  Republicans believe the way to solve this dilemma is to create a fair 
and responsible prescription drug plan that is affordable, available, 
and voluntary for all Medicare beneficiaries.
  It is the right and moral thing to do. By making prescription drug 
coverage accessible to everyone. Republicans want to make sure that no 
senior citizen or disabled American falls through the cracks.

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