MEDICARE Rx DRUG BENEFIT AND DISCOUNT ACT
[This page contains information from the 108th and 107th Congresses.]

108TH CONGRESS:

"This proposal does too much to destroy Medicare and too little to help the
seniors who can least afford their medicines.  It still can, and should be, changed."
-- Statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA
on reported Medicare Prescription Drug Agreement

MORE PUBLIC REACTION TO THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT

House-Senate Conference: H.R. 1,
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003

November 22, 2003, Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell during Floor consideration of the conference report on H.R. 1

November 21, 2003, Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell at the  Rules Committee Meeting on H.R. 1

November 20, 2003 Prepared Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell at the  Conference Committee Meeting on H.R. 1

Comparison of the Medicare Prescription Drug Conference Agreement with the House and Senate Passed Bills (pdf)

November 5, 2003 Letter to President Bush from Representative John D. Dingell and Senator Edward M. Kennedy regarding the Medicare Conference

October 20, 2003 Letter to House Chairmen Grassley, Thomas, and Tauzin regarding the Medicare Prescription Drug Conference

July 15, 2003 statement of Congressman John D. Dingell at the first meeting of the House-Senate conference

July 14, 2003 letter from AARP to the House-Senate conferees

Committee Markup and House Floor Action on
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act

July 14, 2003 Floor Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell on Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1, the "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act"
June 26, 2003, Floor Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell on H.R. 1, the "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act"
Reaction to the Republican Medicare Bill as it went to the House Floor
June 26, 2003, Dear Democratic Colleague: "Support RURAL Beneficiaries and Providers:  Vote YES on Rangel-Dingell Substitute!"
June 26, 2003, Dear Democratic Colleague:   "Rangel-Dingell Substitute: It's about seniors' security!"
June 26, 2003, Dear Democratic Colleague:   "Under the Thomas Plan (H.R. 1) Seniors Will Watch Medicare Fade Away"
June 25, 2003 - Dissenting Views filed as part of Committee on Energy and Commerce Report 108-178, Part 1 on H.R. 2473, "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003"
June 24, 2003, Dear Democratic Colleague: "Post-Markup Report from Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees" (pdf file)
June 19, 2003, Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2473 "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003"
June 18, 2003, Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell on the Democratic Drug Benefit
June 18, 2003, Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2473 "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003"
June 17, 2003, Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Full Committee Markup to consider the "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003"
June 17, 2003, Full Committee Markup of H.R. 2473 "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003"
June 12, 2003, Dear Colleague:  "Making Seniors Pay More for Ideology"   (pdf version)
June 11, 2003, Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Press Conference on the Grassley-Baucus Medicare RX Bill
April 30, 2003, Letter to Committee Chairman Tauzin and Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis stating procedural concerns

H.R. 1199
MEDICARE RX DRUG BENEFIT AND
DISCOUNT ACT OF 2003

Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell - March 4, 2003

House Democratic Plan:
   Executive Summary and Description 

The Republican Proposals:
   The President's Drug Plan: The Wrong Prescription
        for Seniors (pdf)  prepared by the Committee on Ways and Means
          Democratic Staff
   Medicare Beneficiaries Pay More Than Twice As Much
        Under Republican Plans (pdf) prepared by the Committee on Ways
           and Means Democratic Staff
   Letter to President Bush (Feb. 13, 2003) asking questions
        about the President's intention to tie significant changes to
        Medicare to his proposal to extend prescription drug benefits
        to seniors

Committee Action:
   April 8, 2003 - Subcommittee on Health Hearing

Learn More about Medicare and Prescription Drugs and What Others Have to Say:

• United Jewish Communities -- May 30, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• Medicare Rights Center -- May 20, 2003, News Release, May 19, 2003, Letter and April 28, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• American Federation of Teachers -- May 14, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• Consumers Union -- May 12, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO -- May 9, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• Alzheimer's Association -- May 9, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. -- May 6, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• American Public Health Association -- May 5, 2003, Letter; News Release (pdf)
• Members and Supporters of the "Campaign to Preserve -- Not Privatize -- Medicare" May 2, 2003, Letter (pdf)
• Families USA -- April 28, 2003, Letter
• Medicare Policy Project -- Henry J. Kaiser Family
• Alliance for Retired Americans -- News Release, Letter, and Principles (pdf)
• AFL-CIO -- March 4, 2003, Letter
• UAW - June 2, 2003 Letter; March 4, 2003, Letter

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107TH CONGRESS:

H.R. 5019
MEDICARE RX DRUG BENEFIT AND DISCOUNT ACT OF 2002

Summary of Democratic Alternative

Committee Action:  June 19 and June 20 & 21

Information on the Republican Bill:

• "Holes in the Republican Prescription Drug Bill"
• "Republican Prescription Drug Bill:  Empty Promise"

Statements of Congressman John D. Dingell:

• Statement on Introduction of Democratic Prescription Drug Benefit Legislation (H.R. 5019)
  Also see "House Democratic Provider Payment Enhancements"

• June 22, 2002, (Audio) Congressman John D. Dingell Delivers the Democratic Radio Response on Prescription Drugs (Real Player basic is required to connect to this broadcast.  For a free download go to www.realplayer.com)
  View Text

• June 18, 2002, opening statement on the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002, Full Committee Markup

• June 13, 2002, statement on the Medicare Rx Drug Benefit and Discount Act

• Op-ed, The Detroit News 5/30/02 "Seniors, disabled require prescription drug benefits"

Letters of Support:

Alliance for Retired Americans
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
  Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME)
Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
FamiliesUSA
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and
  Medicare
The National Council on the Aging
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC)

Dear Colleague Letters: (pdf)
(Letters to fellow House Members regarding the legislation)

• June 26, 2002 -- "A Vote For the Bilirakis-Johnson Medicare Privatization Bill is a Vote Against Employer-Sponsored Retiree Coverage; House Republican Bill is a Tax on Seniors with Retiree Coverage"
• June 17, 2002 -- "Republican Medicare Drug Bill: What Is The Real Agenda? Privatization -- Not Choice"
• June 16, 2002 -- "Health Policy Experts Wary of House Republican Medicare Drug Plan"
• June 7, 2002 -- "Republicans Aim To Privatize Medicare"
• June 6, 2002 -- "Who thinks $350 billion is enough for Medicare Prescription Drugs?"