[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11355]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 PASS REPUBLICAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

  (Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, the House Prescription Drug Action Team and 
other leaders have been working very hard to provide a plan for a 
prescription drug benefit to all seniors. We have had many listening 
sessions, and we have crafted a meaningful prescription drug benefit. 
We need to pass this plan now, especially for women and our seniors.
  Women make up more of the population over the age 65 because women 
actually live, on average, 7 years longer than men. If we look at a 
snapshot of Americans aged 85 and older, nearly three-quarters of these 
are women. But they are not just living longer; they have smaller 
incomes and have fewer financial resources to take care of their 
pharmaceutical needs.
  Women are almost twice as likely as men to have incomes below 
$10,000, and two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries with annual incomes 
below the poverty level are women. Fewer financial resources and 
greater longevity are key reasons why Congress needs to pass this 
prescription drug plan now.
  Under this act, men and women under the age of 65 will benefit from 
substantial discounts.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to pass this plan now for all seniors, but 
especially for our women.

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