PRESIDENT CLINTON:
URGING CONGRESS TO ACT NOW ON A MEDICARE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
AND OTHER NATIONAL PRIORITIES
"We have a full-time obligation to deal with the big opportunities and the big challenges of this country, and Congress should feel that obligation, even when they go into recess. There is no heavier evidence of that today than the need to provide voluntary, affordable prescription drug coverage."
President Bill Clinton
Thursday, May 25, 2000
Today, at the White House, President Clinton met with the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate to discuss passage of a Medicare prescription drug benefit, as well as other national priorities including a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights, common-sense gun safety legislation, and an increase in the minimum wage. The President emphasized that now is the time while the nation is in the midst of unprecedented prosperity and the longest economic expansion in history to strengthen and modernize Medicare with a prescription drug benefit that is voluntary, affordable, and available to all beneficiaries. He reiterated that the Democratic party is united in its strategy to provide this benefit, and outlined why the Republican plan falls short. The President urged Congress to act on this and other national priorities this year.
Addressing the Need for Prescription Drug Coverage. The following statistics support the urgent need for a Medicare prescription drug benefit:
Democrats are Unified on Benefit Plan. The Democratic Caucus is united in its support for a new prescription drug benefit that is:
Republican Plan Falls Short of Their Stated Goals. Although the House Republican leadership recently recognized the need for an affordable, optional prescription drug benefit available to all Medicare beneficiaries, their current proposal does not achieve this goal because it:
May 25, 2000
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