[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         BUSH RX DRUG TAX: EIGHTEEN DAYS UNTIL TAX TAKES EFFECT

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if House Republicans really 
want to help America's seniors, they would join us in reversing a 
proposal in the Republican prescription drug plan that would penalize 
any senior who chooses a private drug plan after May 15.
  As this calendar shows, we have 18 days left. If House Republicans do 
not support our efforts to extend the deadline until the end of the 
year, millions of seniors will face a prescription drug tax that they 
must pay every month for the rest of their lives.
  Over 14 million seniors still have not chosen a plan. Some are 
frustrated, confused by dozens of plans they have to choose from. 
Others have heard the horror stories of seniors not having access to 
drugs they were promised or seniors being overcharged for some of their 
medication. Some of these seniors will eventually want to choose a 
plan, but they should not be forced into making that tough decision by 
May 15.
  It is time House Republicans stand up and support America's seniors. 
Reject the President's prescription drug tax. And as we mark off 
another day on the calendar, Republicans only have 18 days to make the 
right decision.

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