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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined First Lady
Hillary Rodham Clinton, House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), and
other House members to call on Congress to pass legislation making prescription
drugs affordable for seniors. "Seniors in my home district and throughout the nation cannot believe that some in Congress have refused to allow them access to prescription drugs. That is why we are here today to force the consideration of important legislation that would greatly improve the quality of life for seniors and give them what they have been demanding – prescription drugs that they can afford," Schakowsky said. House Republicans have refused to allow debate and consideration of bills that would lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. That is why House Democrats announced a "Discharge Petition," which is a parliamentary tool that allows a majority of members to force bills that are being bottled-up in committee onto the House floor. Democrats are using this procedure to force consideration of the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act (H.R. 664) and the Access to Prescription Medications in Medicare Act (H.R. 1495). H.R. 664 would allow pharmacies to purchase drugs for Medicare beneficiaries at the same low prices available to the federal government and other favored customers, and H.R. 1495 would provide a basic prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. Earlier this year, Schakowsky released a study performed by the Government Reform Committee's minority staff. The study found that, in her district, seniors on Medicare and persons with disabilities who do not have prescription drug coverage are paying on average 114% more than drug companies' most favored customers, such as insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and the federal government. The study also concluded that pharmaceutical companies, not drug stores, are responsible for the inflated prices being paid by seniors. Later, she released another study which found that uninsured seniors living in her district pay much higher prices for prescription drugs than they would pay for these same drugs in Canada and Mexico. "The high cost of prescription drugs threatens the life and health of seniors. We have crafted common sense solutions to help ensure that our seniors get the medications they need to lead healthy and productive lives," Schakowsky said. |
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