[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 12911-12912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REPUBLICAN RX DRUG PLAN IS ACTUALLY DRIVING UP PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would 
like to highlight two new reports out over the last week that once 
again demonstrates how the pharmaceutical industry is benefiting from 
the new prescription drug plan, while American seniors and the American 
taxpayers are paying even larger bills.
  The first study, done by AARP, concluded that wholesale prices on the 
most popular drugs used by American seniors increased by 3.9 percent 
over the first 3 months of the year. Pharmaceutical companies promised 
drug prices would go down when the Republican plan took effect, but now 
it is clear they have actually increased at four times the rate of 
inflation.
  The second study was conducted by Families USA, which found that 
American veterans are paying 43 percent less for their drugs than their 
counterparts under the Republican prescription drug plan. Our veterans 
get cheaper rates because the VA negotiates to get better deals from 
the pharmaceutical companies.
  Contrast that with the Republican drug plan that restricts Medicare 
from negotiating on behalf of the American seniors.

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