Debbie Dingell: “Mr. Speaker, the Hypocratic oath requires that doctors first do no harm. There is no such oath for Members of Congress.…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Hypocratic oath requires that doctors first do no harm. There is no such oath for Members of Congress. But we would be wise to heed it when we consider the Medicare prescription drug benefit tonight, for this bill certainly will do harm to millions of Americans. I know this. My constituents know this, and seniors across the country know this. They are furious with the organizations and the Members of Congress that support this plan. This is not an abstract debate. This has a huge impact on real people. It will do harm to people like Helen Lay, my constituent, a retiree in Colorado. Helen is worried because, as she sees it, this bill has something in it for everyone except the senior citizens. Helen and her husband, Frank, are fortunate enough to have good prescription drug coverage through their retirement plan. Right now, they spend about $800 a year on prescription drugs. Without insurance, they would be spending nearly $12,000. This bill will do great harm to Helen and Frank and millions of other seniors because it will encourage employer retirement plans to end prescription drug coverage, forcing seniors into substandard plans that cost more, and no one knows what the coverage or the price will be.”