MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2003 -- (House of Representatives - June 02, 2004)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bonner) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, Monday December 8, 2003, was truly a historic day for millions of Americans, especially our senior citizens. During the long anticipated and much planned for ceremony at the DAR Constitution Hall here in our Nation's capital, President Bush signed into law the conference report on H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.
This event, attended by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, as well as from both Chambers here in this building, was a landmark moment in the history of the Medicare program. It marked the culmination of years of effort by Members from this Chamber, as well as by some of our colleagues in the other body.
Make no mistake, the revisions to the Medicare program will provide great benefits to the senior citizens of this country who need the help the most. By signing up now for the new prescription drug discount card, seniors will be eligible for at-the-register savings of between 10 and 25 percent today. Soon, 75 percent of the drug costs of up to $2,250 will be covered by Medicare; and before long, catastrophic coverage of up to 95 percent will take effect for amounts over $3,600.
This new plan includes incentives for employers to keep their current employees enrolled as well as retirees under their existing plans as well as employers who will be able to include new provisions of this Medicare plan, the expanse of which is in their new plans.
In my home State of Alabama, the Medicare program will assume responsibility for the prescription drug cost of nearly 140,000 seniors who are currently eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
Mr. Speaker, the revisions to the Medicare program are more extensive than can be covered during the time we have this evening, but there is also one important fact to remember: this plan is purely voluntary. Many Americans may well be satisfied with the coverage that they currently have, and they do not have to do anything. They can stay where they are. Senior citizens have the right to choose whether or not they want to enroll in this important new program.
Unfortunately, with all of the great news about this new program, many American seniors have failed to take action at this point largely because there is still confusion about the specifics of this program.
In a survey conducted in my district just recently, residents were asked how they felt about the new Medicare prescription drug plan. Sixty percent of those questioned said that they actually approved of the measure, although many did have additional questions and reservations about specific parts of the plan. Nearly 30 percent were not sure how they felt or had no opinion at all.
In a series of town hall meetings I recently had in my district in south Alabama, I received more questions regarding this plan and how it would impact the seniors in my district and their families. These questions and the survey results are not surprising. Such sweeping changes in a program as important as Medicare, which has basically remained consistent since its inception since the 1960s, undoubtedly has caused some confusion.
In an effort to help answer some of these questions and help clear up some of the clouds of confusion that exist, I will be hosting two senior citizen seminars on Monday, June 7, in my district in south Alabama. The primary focus of these events is to focus the attention on the Medicare bill.
I am pleased that representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services will be in attendance to help answer questions, as well as my friend and our colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), who will also be on hand to discuss this important issue. Before beginning his outstanding service here in the Congress, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) was a practicing physician. And he is well qualified not only as a legislator but also as someone who has participated in the medical profession for so many years of his life.
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Moreover, I have representatives from the Social Security Administration as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs to answer other questions that are pertinent to our senior citizens at this twilight of their lives.
My hope is that these two seminars, the first in Fairhope, Alabama, and the second in Mobile, will do much to provide useful information to help answer questions that are so important and so timely.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to do likewise in their district, to try to reach out and help explain some of the questions that still exist with this new law. The assistance this program is providing is desperately needed by our senior citizens.
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