Hilda L. Solis: “I raise my voice this morning in concern about the new Medicare prescription drug card that took effect yesterday. Last…”

“I raise my voice this morning in concern about the new Medicare prescription drug card that took effect yesterday. Last week, I visited numerous senior centers in my district to learn that many of those in my district are very confused because they do not have basic information about the program. The low-income seniors I met with are especially frightened because the information was not provided in their language, many who speak Spanish and many who speak Chinese. There are 7.2 million low-income seniors whose needs are being ignored, yet the cost of medication is up 27 percent according to AARP. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists spent $2.7 million to pass this legislation. Plus, the new Medicare law hurts seniors because a stringent and complex asset test is now in place, prohibiting many seniors in my district from taking full advantage of this program. They are even concerned about their burial plots, that that is going to be used against them. How dare we implement such legislation. My seniors ask me, Congresswoman, who is there to protect me? We voted for the Congress to protect us. Where are they when we need them? Who is looking out for us?”