Date: 2003-11-21
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I am one of those Republicans who grew up very poor. My dad was a Democrat. And I remember asking him why he was a Democrat. and he said because the Democrats protect the poor. What I am hearing here tonight says the Democrats do not care about the poor. They do not care about the little old lady whose income is about $11.000. who only has Social Security. who cannot get prescription drugs today. That is the wrong message to be sending if they hope to be the savior of the poor and the drowntrodden. I also teach health care. One of the things that I teach in my class are statistics. And the statistics are that the African American community and the Hispanic community pass away at a much earlier age from heart attacks. from coronary artery problems. and you know what? These are the prescription drugs that will be available under this prescription drug plan. How can they go back home and say that they are protecting the poor and the downtrodden? These are the same. the poor and the downtrodden. these are the people that are going to benefit from this prescription drug plan. I fully support it. It is a good bill for everyone. Mr. Speaker. I rise today In support of the Bipartisan Medicare Prescription Drug. Improvement. and Modernization Act because it finally provides the much needed prescription drug relief seniors have asking for. offers help to our rural hospitals and our nations doctors. and begins the real modernization and reform of a Medicare program in dire need. Throughout my public service. I have heard a persistent question from my seniors how are you going to help us with the cost of prescription drugs? With the passage of this bill. I feel that I can finally begin to answer that question. For the first time in history. we are going to provide all 40 million seniors and disabled Americans with prescription drug coverage. It gives me great comfort to know that in 2006. with this Prescription Drug Plan. drug costs for seniors could be cut almost in half. And as early as next year. senior will begin to save an estimated 25 percent on prescription drugs with their Medicare prescription drug card. In the first year we expect seniors to save an estimated $365. As a member of the Speakers Prescription Drug Task Force. this Is something we fought for. and this is something we got. In addition. we are giving Americans more control over their health care by creating Health Savings Accounts. where they can contribute up to $2.500 a year into these taxfree accounts and citizens 55 years or older are permitted to make "catch up" payments. These accounts can be used for future medical expenses and may prove to be an additional much needed asset to our aging population. Mr. Speaker. I would also like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a very Important component to this bill. As we are all aware. in 2004. the prescription drug discount card in Medicare will offer seniors up to 25 percent off their drug costs and provide lowincome seniors. those with incomes of less than 135 percent of poverty into account. a $600 subsidy on top of the discount card. Thats great savings. especially for wealthier seniors. But what If you have an income of over 135 percent of poverty and youre disqualified from receiving the cash subsidy? Currently. hundreds of thousands of seniors In this country are provided discount cards from the prescription drug companies that offer significant savings on medications that a particular company produces. The Incomerestrictions on these cards are in some cases up to 300 percent of poverty. This means virtually all seniors In my district are eligible for this savings. which in many cases equals up to 80 percent off the retail cost of the drug. For example. Mr. Speaker. Eli Lilly makes Prozac. and if one of my 5th district seniors needs assistance with the cost of that drug. they can sign up to receive a card from Eli Lilly that entitles them to receive a 30day supply of any Eli Lilly product for just $12. If. due to the new Medicare discount card. these Important voluntary programs were discontinued. many of our Nations seniors would end up paying higher prices. My constituent would end up paying over $75 for the same Prozac he or she is now receiving for only $12. Just as there was a fear this benefit would cause employers to drop coverage once it became available. I was concerned that the drug card would cause drug manufacturers to discontinue their cards. Mr. Speaker. working with you. Majority Leader DELAY. Majority Whip BLUNI and many of my other colleagues in this House. I took the lead and fought to protect seniors who are benefiting from the current prescription drug cards. Now. on page 64 of the report language addendum and addressing section 1860D31 of Conference agreement. Section 105 of House bill. Section 111 of Senate Bill reads: Seniors currently benefit from prescription drug assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Conferees intend that these programs continue to be offered until the full implementation of the prescription drug benefit. Nothing in this conference report shall be interpreted as encouraging the discontinuation or diminution of these benofits. Additionally. I have secured several letters from drug manufacturers in this country Indicating their commitment to continuing to offer these worthwhile and necessary card programs. copies of which Id like to Insert into the RECORD. Mr. Speaker. I simply want to bring this to the attention of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and especially to the seniors in my district. Neither conference staff nor most of the members of this body were aware of this glitch In the proposal and I am very proud of the work we were able to do together. In closing. Mr. Speaker. friends. colleagues. the citizens of the 5th Congressional District of Florida elected me to this seat because they believed my voice would be heard and that I would stand with them In making a prescription drug benefit In Medicare a reality. It simply has been too long that our Nations seniors have had to choose between lifesaving drugs and food and this is unacceptable. No one in this chamber believes that this bill is perfect. including myself. but I believe this bill is a good beginning and it signifies progress in our efforts to provide all of our constituents with the best. safest. and most affordable health care the world has to offer. In the months and years ahead. it Is my hope and my promise that I will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans. to continue to make progress in our ongoing battle to Improve health care for all Americans. including additional protections for retirees currently receiving health care benefits and addressing the rising costs of prescription drugs. But tonight we have a choice to maketo take a step forward or to accept the status quo. Instead of concentrating on the weaknesses of this proposal. we must each embrace its strengths and dedicate ourselves to the next step forward. Accordingly. I urge my colleagues to vote In favor of the Prescription Drug and Medicare Modernization Act.