Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am here to speak in support of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and, in particular, I want to speak in support of my bill which is included in the act, the Enhancing Retirement Security for Medicare Beneficiaries Act, which would guarantee that the disbursements of retirement savings are not counted when determining if someone qualifies for Medicare part D's low-income subsidy program.

As a young girl, I learned the importance of saving money. My first job was running a paper route in my neighborhood in Canton, Ohio, at the age of 8. At the end of every week, I would put aside a quarter or two just to save up for a candy bar. It wasn't much, but it taught me the importance that saving money is worth it.

Americans and our seniors should not be punished for saving for their retirement, but when retirement savings are counted towards eligibility for prescription drug assistance, we are punishing the very seniors who have been working hard and saving money.

The fact is that no group of Nevadans relies more on prescription drugs than our seniors, and the rising cost of living is hard enough on older Americans. We should be making it easier for them to retire in dignity, and that means not forcing them to choose between buying groceries or lifesaving medication.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that my bill was included in the underlying text of H.R. 3, and it is time that we lower prescription drug costs not just for seniors on Medicare, but for all Americans.

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