    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 28, 2002]
    [Page 129]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    January 28, 2002

    Medicare

        The President. I want to thank the Members from both the House and
    the Senate, both of the political parties, for coming to discuss an
    incredibly important issue, and that is Medicare. We had good
    discussions last year, and now it's time to get something done.
        We need a comprehensive reform plan that includes prescription drugs
    for every senior. And the will of the folks around this table is to work
    together to do just that, is to make sure our seniors have got the
    capacity to have a--to purchase prescription drugs. That's what we all
    want.
        And I believe that given the right focus and the right efforts, we
    can achieve that objective. And while we're doing so, we want Medicare
    to be modernized. We want it to be a system that is relevant for seniors
    today and for tomorrow. And it's not. It's a system--it's old, and it's
    tired, and it needs to be looked at in a way that recognizes we've made
    a commitment to our country's seniors. But we want the commitment to
    work.
        And so, the Members around this table have all come back to town and
    said, ``Let's get something done.'' And I'm so thrilled to have them
    here, and I appreciate the spirit. And it's going to require that kind
    of spirit to get it done.
        I'm looking forward to my speech tomorrow night. I will mention
    Medicare in my speech. We need to make it work; we need for there to be
    a prescription drug plan in the program.
        Thank you all for coming.
        Q. Do you think it will be likely in an election year, sir? Is it
    likely in an election year, sir?
        The President. You know, that's why you run for office. Election
    year or no election year, it's time to get something done. And this is
    not an issue for the faint-hearted, but it's the right thing to do. And
    Members around here understand it.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:27 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.