[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15879]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TIME IS NOW FOR REAL, MEANINGFUL, AFFORDABLE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG 
                                BENEFIT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, the elderly and disabled have waited long 
enough for a prescription drug benefit in Medicare and for relief from 
the high cost of prescription drug prices. While the Republicans have 
been busy voting on permanent tax cuts, seniors throughout the country 
have been waiting for Congress to take action on prescription drugs. 
All seniors need relief from prescription drug prices, and they need it 
now.
  However, the Republican prescription drug bill completely fails the 
test of a real Medicare drug benefit. The Republican bill has no 
guaranteed minimum benefit, no guaranteed, affordable monthly premium, 
and no guarantee of fair drug prices. To add insult to injury, their 
bill leaves a huge coverage gap. Seniors who need more than $2,000 
worth of drugs must pay one hundred percent out-of-pocket, and keep 
paying premiums, until they reach the $3,500 out-of-pocket cap.
  Mr. Speaker, the Democrats have an alternative we hope to offer. 
Under the Democratic plan, seniors and individuals with disabilities 
will be able to keep making the choices that matter to them. Seniors 
won't be forced to join an HMO. They won't have to join a private 
insurance plan that will restrict their access to needed drugs, deny 
coverage for the medicine their doctors prescribe, or force them to 
change pharmacies. And unlike the Republican plan, our plan has no 
gap--beneficiaries will always have coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, the time is now for a real, meaningful, and affordable 
Medicare prescription drug benefit. Unfortunately, it looks like this 
Republican-led House won't be providing one anytime soon.

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