[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mr. SULLIVAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, the House of 
Representatives passed a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. 
Since this has happened, I have received hundreds of calls from seniors 
thanking me for voting for this very important measure.
  A significant number of seniors in the First District of Oklahoma are 
forced to live on a fixed budget. In order to live within their means, 
some skip a meal, some turn off their air conditioners, and some only 
take half the prescriptions that have been prescribed to them, to save.
  It is a simple fact that seniors need permanent prescription drug 
benefit from this Congress. But simple is not always synonymous with 
easy, especially when politics are involved. The House has passed a 
good bill, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to follow the 
House's lead.
  Our bill was based on simple, common sense principles. They are: To 
lower the cost of prescription drugs now and in the future; guarantee 
all seniors prescription drug coverage under Medicare; improve Medicare 
with more choices and more savings; and strengthen Medicare for the 
future.
  Our seniors need a prescription drug benefit this year. I hope my 
colleagues in the Senate will follow suit.

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