[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24416-24417]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 1, MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND 
                       MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, It would be healthy for the conference 
committee to

[[Page 24417]]

debate this in the context of the overall program that will serve the 
senior citizens most in need. Having the possibility of the wealthiest 
senior citizens paying a little more does not seem unreasonable.
  Unfortunately, Congress is slowly but surely painting itself into a 
corner. As people rule out tax or fee increases, benefit reductions, 
copayment adjustment or eligibility modifications, there appears to be 
no way the current program can be maintained, much less add a new, 
important, but expensive prescription drug benefit without a massive 
infusion from the general fund (borrowed dollars).
  With increasing budget deficits, more tax cuts, and escalating 
demands on Social Security and Medicare (both in terms of service and 
demographics), we are headed for a train wreck. We must start making 
some adjustments because time is growing short and a problem that is 
already difficult is becoming more serious as time goes on.

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