The House-passed budget for 2003 builds on our long-standing commitment to ensure a more secure future for America's seniors and future retirees.

The ten year budget outline provides $350 billion for prescription drug coverage for seniors and Medicare reforms to strengthen and protect the program. Within this framework, seniors are guaranteed that they will not see any change in current benefits. It also goes a long way toward preserving Social Security for future retirees.

Resources have been set aside allowing severely disabled veterans to receive retirement pay and disability pay at the same time. This will increase their payments from a maximum of $300 per- month under current provisions, to as much as $2,163 per-month in FY 2007. This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.