[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11230]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           REPUBLICAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, the prescription drug benefit addition to 
Medicare, which was passed by the Republican Congress, Republican 
Senate, and signed by the Republican President, mostly over Democrat 
objections, has four aspects we need to remember:
  Number one, this very popular program, endorsed by the AARP and most 
senior groups and health care groups, starts officially in the year 
2006.
  Number two, it is voluntary.
  Number three, it reduces the cost of prescription drugs by 
approximately 50 percent after the premiums and the deductibles are 
met. It is about a 50-percent reduction, not as much as many would 
want; yet it is still affordable.
  Number four, effective yesterday, June 1, many seniors, and those who 
voluntarily have decided to buy a prescription drug card similar to 
this, will enjoy a 20 percent discount on their drugs.
  That means that my mom and dad, and yours too, perhaps, can start 
getting about a 20 percent discount on Glucophage or Lipitor or 
whatever prescription drug they need. All they need to do is dial 1-800 
Medicare or www. Medicare.gov in order to see how they can immediately 
start saving 20 percent on their prescription drugs.

                          ____________________