Charles Skelton: “there is no truer indication of a nation's priorities than the investment it makes in the health of its citizens…”

“there is no truer indication of a nation's priorities than the investment it makes in the health of its citizens, particularly our senior citizens. Medicare was created nearly 40 years ago with a basic fundamental principle in mind: health care coverage should be guaranteed, affordable, and equitable to all seniors. Throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in Congress, I have worked to make sure Medicare remains strong for those currently benefitting from its coverage and for those who will rely upon its benefits in the years ahead. As a member of the Rural Health Care Coalition, I was pleased when the administration and congressional leadership announced earlier this year that providing a prescription drug program within the reliable Medicare system was a high priority for the 108th Congress. However, it has become clear throughout the year that efforts to provide a meaningful prescription drug benefit within Medicare were being undermined by a systematic attempt to destroy the Medicare program. I am disappointed that the bill before us today, H.R. 1, does just that, undermining the very foundation of Medicare while creating a confusing and inadequate prescription drug coverage program for rural Missouri's seniors.”