[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13470]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       PRESCRIPTION DRUG PACKAGE IMPORTANT FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 7, 2003, the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today as a Member of Congress 
to emphasize the importance of passing a meaningful, comprehensive 
prescription drug package now. But I know my voice is small, even as a 
Member of Congress, compared to a senior citizen who has to choose 
between paying for living expenses or prescription drugs. That voice 
needs to be heard in Congress.
  I heard that voice in Paw Paw, West Virginia. I heard that voice in 
Martinsburg, West Virginia. And I heard that voice again in Mill Creek, 
Moorefield, Franklin, Gassaway, and Cedar Grove. Those are all of the 
towns in West Virginia that I visited and have visited during my year-
long district tour of rural health centers and during the last two 
district work periods.
  I am sure I will hear that voice again when I visit more rural health 
care centers. I will probably hear it more from women, because women 
represent 72 percent of the population age 85 and older.

                              {time}  1045

  Mr. Speaker, women are more likely to have lower incomes in their 
retirements. There are twice as many women as men 65 years or older 
with annual incomes less than $10,000.
  I want to modernize Medicare with a guaranteed prescription drug 
benefit so when I visit my district again and resume my rural health 
tour, it is not to hear what the problem is, but to say that the 
problem has been worked on and a solution has been passed by this 
Congress.

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