[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           MODERNIZE MEDICARE

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, we need to modernize Medicare with a 
prescription drug benefit, and both parties agree. The difference is 
this: Our plan fits within the budget. It covers needy seniors and 
prevents a senior from losing their home due to high drug costs. Most 
importantly, it provides an immediate discount now on drug prices, not 
2 years from now, as the minority plan offers.
  The minority plan spends $1 trillion. In the middle of a war and an 
economic downturn, can seniors depend on that $1 trillion check from 
bouncing? Seniors count on the promises we make. They cannot count on a 
$1 trillion check to actually be cashed.
  Our plan is affordable. It is a promise we can keep. It is a promise 
that seniors can count on.

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