Jeremiah Smith: “I would like to talk a bit about The Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Act of 2000--S. 2319. This bill allows…”

“I would like to talk a bit about The Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Act of 2000--S. 2319. This bill allows seniors to enroll in a new program under Medicare which will provide for prescription drug coverage without increasing Medicare premiums or costing the Federal Government one penny. This is an issue about which, as you know, many seniors are very concerned. The Senate unanimously approved a sense-of-the-Senate amendment on the budget resolution offered by myself, Senator Allard, and Senator Domenici. This sense-of-the-Senate is very simple. First of all, under the plan the Senate Democrats are committed to passing this year, there are six basic principles. I agree with them all. No. 1, it is voluntary. I agree with this. If the senior doesn't want it, he or she should not have to take it. No. 2, it is accessible to all Medicare beneficiaries. I agree with that. A hallmark of Medicare is that all beneficiaries, even those in rural or underserved communities, have access to dependable health care. It should be accessible to everybody.”