IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 461
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the 
American Association of Retired Persons and the Republican Medicare 
prescription drug bill. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 20, 2003
Mr. WEXLER (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. HASTINGS of Flor-
ida, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. 
HINCHEY, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. 
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CLAY, and Ms. NORTON) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways 
and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with 
respect to the American Association of Retired Persons 
and the Republican Medicare prescription drug bill.
Whereas the American Association of Retired Persons 
(‘‘AARP’’) urged Members of Congress earlier this year 
to sign a pledge promising to work with their organiza-
tion in developing and passing a stable prescription drug 
benefit for seniors; 
Whereas the Republican Medicare prescription drug bill now 
supported by the AARP begins the process of privatizing
•HRES 461 IH 
Medicare, which will lead to instability and seniors fre-
quently changing plans in response to private insurers, 
including HMOs reducing benefits, raising premiums and 
leaving coverage areas; 
Whereas the AARP pledge called for a prescription drug plan 
that ensures affordable prices be the rule not the excep-
tion; 
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican drug bill has a 
gaping $2,800 hole in coverage from $2,200–5,000 worth 
of medication, and this hole will grow to $5,600 by 2013; 
Whereas AARP pledge called for reasonable premiums, 
deductibles and co-payments to apply to everyone; 
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill does not define 
the premiums into law, thereby allowing private plans to 
determine the monthly premium that will vary widely 
around the country; 
Whereas the AARP pledge called for prescription drug cov-
erage that will not leave individuals with extraordinary 
out-of-pocket costs; 
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill leaves many 
seniors with extraordinary out-of-pocket costs, whereby a 
senior with average drugs costs of $3,155 in a year (aver-
age Medicare beneficiary spending in 2006 when the bill 
becomes effective) must spend $2,500 out of his or her 
own pocket—or nearly 71 percent of the costs; 
Whereas the AARP pledge called for reductions in soaring 
drug costs that will keep the Medicare program afford-
able; 
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill explicitly pro-
hibits the government from negotiation with drug manu-
facturers to reduce drug prices for beneficiaries;
•HRES 461 IH 
Whereas the AARP pledge called for extra help for low-in-
come individuals that will guarantee benefits for all who 
need them; and 
Whereas the AARP-supported Republican bill has less protec-
tions than the Senate-passed bill for those with low in-
comes—leaving millions of low-income beneficiaries with 
no help: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) is outraged that the AARP has reneged on 
its pledge and is abandoning seniors by supporting 
the Republican Medicare prescription drug bill; 
(2) urges seniors to hold the AARP accountable 
for its actions; and 
(3) urges AARP to immediately reverse its deci-
sion and oppose the Republican prescription drug 
bill.
Æ