[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   AMERICA'S SENIOR CITIZENS DESERVE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT UNDER 
                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. HAYES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that 
is vitally important to our Nation's seniors: a prescription drug 
benefit for Medicare.
  We know that treating diseases with prescription medications can help 
reduce the chance of costly hospital stays and expensive medical 
procedures. I urge my colleagues to work together to ensure a fair and 
responsible Medicare plan that lowers the cost of prescription drugs 
now so that senior citizens can better afford the medicines they need 
to live healthier lives and to improve their quality of life.
  No American should be forced to choose between food, shelter, or 
prescription drugs. Last August, I toured the eighth district of North 
Carolina with a petition gathering signatures of seniors who agreed 
that we need that prescription drug benefit now. At each stop, seniors 
told me of their disappointment of promises that were made, but not 
kept. The time is long overdue for us to make good on this promise.
  Medicare is a program that has been helping millions of older 
Americans meet their health care needs since that first day back in 
1965. We can and should strengthen Medicare to make it even better for 
our seniors. One critical way we can make this program better is by 
adding a prescription drug benefit.
  Our seniors deserve no less.

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