[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10548]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SENIORS NEED DRUG BENEFIT NOW

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Americans have sent a 
clear message to Congress: Seniors need a prescription drug benefit 
now. We can no longer rely on rhetoric and empty promises. We must take 
action now to make sure that seniors receive help.
  Now, thanks to the leadership of Republicans, we have a prescription 
drug benefit plan that not only provides for a long-term permanent 
benefit, but also makes sure that relief is given now in the short 
term.
  This is a plan that does not discriminate between different groups of 
seniors, as everyone should have access to the prescription drug if 
they choose to use it. And the most important part of this plan is that 
it provides options. We will give seniors real choices to make sure 
they get a plan that best suits their individual needs.
  Many on the other side of the aisle want to make this a partisan 
issue. They offer up plans that have no basis in reality, calling for a 
$800 billion program with no way to fund it. This is politics as usual, 
rhetoric with no results.
  The Republican prescription drug benefit is a responsible and 
realistic plan, and we can get it to our seniors now.

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