[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 12913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS OFFER A PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE TO FINALLY HELP SENIORS WITH 
                             RX DRUG COSTS

  (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, recent reports have shown why the Republican 
prescription drug plan is not working for seniors. Prices are still 
going up, and millions of seniors are about to fall into the doughnut 
hole, a period where they receive no coverage but continue to pay their 
premiums.
  Democrats have long believed there is a better way, so we introduced 
a Democratic prescription for change. Our plan would give Medicare the 
bargaining power to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. The VA 
is doing that right now, and veterans are paying 43 percent less for 
their drugs than American seniors.
  With all the money we save from negotiating lower prices, we have 
closed the doughnut hole to ensure that seniors are not losing coverage 
for a substantial portion of the year. Mr. Speaker, if Republicans are 
really interested in helping our seniors with their prescription drug 
bills, they would join us in supporting this prescription for change. 
It just doesn't make sense to continue with a plan that isn't lowering 
costs and creates a giant gap in coverage.

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