Health Care in the 108th Congress

HEALTH CARE IN THE 108TH CONGRESS

Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, this Congress will address a number of very serious issues this year, but there is perhaps no issue we will discuss with greater long-term implications than health care.

Last year, my colleagues and I came to the Senate floor to talk about and debate the pressing need for an affordable, universal, and voluntary prescription drug benefit for America's seniors. Unfortunately, our efforts were not successful, and our Nation's seniors continue to live in fear that the loss of their health could lead to the loss of their homes.

For the past several years, I have also tried to address the growing problem of the uninsured: Every day, 41 million Americans live, work, and go to school without health coverage. While the economic downturn this past year has caused many families to tighten their belts, it has had more serious results for almost 2 million men, women, and children who have lost their health insurance along with their jobs.

Last year, the Senate Budget Committee chairman's mark included a $500 billion health fund, to be used to modernize Medicare with the addition of a prescription drug benefit, and to reduce the number of uninsured in this country. With annual prescription drug cost inflation, any legislation to address the long-neglected need of Medicare seniors for an affordable prescription drug benefit this year will consume at least as much. Additionally, growing State fiscal woes coupled with the increase in the number of uninsured Americans will require a substantial Federal response.

With the threat of war and ongoing economic downturn, it may be difficult to consider new initiatives this year. But we must. The current economic climate is all the more reason to focus attention and resources on covering the uninsured now, when the need is great. In addition, every year that passes without adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, seniors continue to suffer, and the cost of adding such a benefit increases substantially. We must make every effort to provide a very real benefit for our Nation's seniors and uninsured, and I urge my colleagues to support a sufficient sum to make these goals a reality this year.