[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7672]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            MEDICARE PART D

  (Ms. HART asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for a stop to the 
misleading and dishonest rhetoric from some political circles that has 
been used to purposefully scare seniors regarding the new prescription 
drug program that is available through Medicare. These hollow claims 
that it is too expensive for seniors or doesn't provide good coverage 
have been repeated by groups across the country.
  These couldn't be farther from the truth. By every true measure, the 
new program is succeeding in its core mission of helping Medicare 
patients save money on their prescription drugs. Participation in the 
program has now exceeded its goal of enrolling 30 million by the 
conclusion of the first year, and it is only May.
  In addition, since the beginning of March of this year, seniors have 
been enrolling in the prescription drug plan at the average rate of 
416,000 seniors per week.
  The overwhelming reason that so many Medicare recipients have now 
enrolled is simple. They are seeing real savings on the cost of their 
prescription drugs. The average senior who signs up for a plan will 
save more than $1,100 on their prescription drugs this year and low 
income seniors projected to save about $3,700; the average premium, 
only $25. Some in my State are paying just over $10.
  Mr. Speaker, with so little time left to enroll, I encourage my 
colleagues help seniors enroll, not scare them.

                          ____________________