Norvell Emerson: “80 million baby boomers are getting ready to retire, and yesterday the General Accountability Office's comptroller David…”

“80 million baby boomers are getting ready to retire, and yesterday the General Accountability Office's comptroller David Walker said, ``If there is one thing that is going to bankrupt America, it is health care.'' Adding that the Medicare prescription drug benefit alone has added $8 trillion, $8 trillion in government obligations, more than all of Social Security over the past 6 years. I would like to remind my friends that this is government obligation because Medicare is a government-run program. It is not a private-sector program. But H.R. 4, Mr. Speaker, won't create price controls, it will not limit choice, and it will not force pharmacies out of business, which is why the National Community Pharmacists Association endorses H.R. 4. It could add more competition, more opportunity to lower drug costs for our seniors, keeping them out of the doughnut hole just a little while longer. Let us not solely entrust the negotiations of drug prices, Mr. Speaker, to the very companies who profit from the sales of these drugs. The American public has entrusted us with their hard-earned tax dollars. Let us show them that we honor that trust and use every tool possible to lower the costs of the Medicare prescription drug program. Each of us was elected, Mr. Speaker, to represent our constituents, not big PhRMA, not the pharmacy benefit managers who prey on our community pharmacists. Support H.R. 4 and bring more competition to this position.”