Frank Pallone: “I want to stress again, as I have many times over the last 2 weeks, the fact that the Republican leadership has not…”

“I want to stress again, as I have many times over the last 2 weeks, the fact that the Republican leadership has not brought up any type of prescription drug benefit. Two or 3 weeks ago we saw members of the Republican leadership in both the committees and various leadership positions say they were going to bring up a prescription drug benefit for seniors. They committed to the fact that that would be in committee last week. It would be reported out to the floor of the House, and would be voted on the floor this week before the Memorial Day recess. All of a sudden we hear nothing about it, no mention of trying to bring any action in committee, no specifics about what they might bring up, certainly no effort to bring anything to the floor. I have said over and over again, this is the biggest crisis facing the American people, particularly seniors. I have seniors every day that call me up and say they cannot afford prescription drugs. What we need to do and what the Democrats have been saying over and over again is that we should simply provide a prescription drug benefit under Medicare so that every senior has a guaranteed benefit, and in the same way they have their hospital bills paid for by Medicare, or doctor bills paid for by Medicare Part B, there should be a new Part C or D under Medicare where they pay a very low premium, a very low deductible per month, and the Federal Government pays at least 80 percent of the cost of their prescription drug bills.”