Thomas Daschle: “we have just two short weeks before the Senate is scheduled to adjourn. Regrettably, this Congress seems on track to be…”

“we have just two short weeks before the Senate is scheduled to adjourn. Regrettably, this Congress seems on track to be remembered for all the different challenges it failed to confront. Forty-five million Americans lack health insurance, and this Congress has done nothing to lower the cost of health care. Medicare premiums are set to rise 17 percent next year, and yet this Congress has done nothing to keep these increases from eating into seniors' Social Security benefits. Eight million Americans are out of work, and we have let a jobs bill that would stop the flow of American jobs overseas languish on the shelf. America deserves better. Today I want to talk specifically about an issue that has strong bipartisan support, is vitally important to millions of Americans, and one that we felt the majority leader was committed to considering. I am talking, of course, about the price of prescription drugs. Each year, the cost of prescription drugs outpaces inflation and moves further out of reach for far too many Americans. This is particularly tough on seniors, many of whom are living on fixed incomes. The AARP revealed last week that during the first quarter of 2004, drug prices rose more than three-and-a-half times the rate of inflation, and there is no end in sight. The typical senior will pay $191 more for their drugs this year than they did in 2003. This has sent a lot of seniors looking for solutions, and many are looking to Canada.…”