[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16137-16138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has an unprecedented 
opportunity to give America's seniors an up-to-date Medicare system 
that includes more choices and better benefits like prescription drug 
coverage. Health care is being transformed by new drug therapies and 
active prevention. Yet in the current system, Medicare must pay for 
those treatments out of their own pocket or go without them. One third 
of the seniors on Medicare have no drug coverage at all, and that is 
about 900,000 American seniors.
  Our seniors should have choices so affordable health care plans 
compete for their business and at the same time give them the coverage 
that they need. Medicare recipients who are happy with their current 
benefits will be able to stay in the current system with an added 
prescription drug benefit. So our program is voluntary. Those who want 
enhanced services, like more coverage for preventative care, will have 
that choice; and seniors who like managed care plans will have that 
option as well. This is a plan we Republicans

[[Page 16138]]

passed out of committee, and this is a plan we will pass very soon here 
in Congress.

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