[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10702]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       REPUBLICAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN IS ILLUSION FOR SENIORS

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership has developed a 
prescription drug plan for seniors, but it is an illusion. The 
pharmaceutical industry is pleased: they win, seniors lose under the 
Republican plan.
  Seniors rely on Medicare for their health care, but they are going to 
have to get their prescription drug coverage from an insurance company, 
if any company is willing to provide it, and that is not likely in 
rural America or perhaps anywhere in this country.
  No guaranteed benefits, no guaranteed premium, no guaranteed 
reduction in price. The Republican plan is a vaccine to inoculate 
Republicans for yet another election against the truth that they 
continue to protect the pharmaceutical industry at the expense of 
seniors.
  Why did they do it? Today's Washington Post: ``Drug Firms Among Big 
Donors at GOP Event.'' Today's New York Times: ``Drug Makers Sponsor 
Event for GOP As Bill Is Debated.'' Corporate greed and political self-
interest are married in this Republican bill, and it should be 
rejected.

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