Thomas Foley: “the Medicare conferees are about to wrap up their important work on providing a prescription drug coverage plan for…”

“the Medicare conferees are about to wrap up their important work on providing a prescription drug coverage plan for America's seniors; and I am excited about the impact it will have on my district, the 16th Congressional District of Florida, which has the fifth largest population of Medicare-eligible seniors in America. Legislation I have worked on over 4 years with Senator Hagel includes the drug discount card which is part of this historic landmark legislation which will provide for over 40 million seniors the opportunity to receive up to a 25 percent discount on their prescription drug costs. This is good news for seniors, welcomed good news for our seniors in the 16th Congressional District, and I am hopeful as we continue our bipartisan negotiations that when we conclude our work on Medicare, it will not only be reformed, it will become cost effective, and it will also contain the vital new programs necessary to modernize for the first time in over 35 years this vitally important safety net, a medical delivery system for our seniors. Mr. Speaker, I am excited about the drug discount card, I applaud the White House for their leadership in taking the idea of Senator Hagel and myself to make it permanent law, and we welcome the opportunity to reach out to seniors with this good plan.”