Seniors Hail President Bush And Congress

Medicare Bill Signed Into Law By President Bush

Statement by 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin

Washington, DC — “The day has arrived…finally…a history-making modernization of Medicare with its long-awaited prescription drug benefit for seniors. President Bush made a campaign promise to deliver a prescription drug benefit for seniors. He kept his promise with today’s bill signing at Constitution Hall.

“I worked on Capitol Hill when Medicare passed 38 years ago on July 30, 1965. We’ve now come full circle in trying to bring this program into the 21st century. It is not a perfect bill…and has opposition by liberals and conservatives alike…but the middle, in this case, some 40 million senior citizens, will benefit.

“This has been mistakenly called a new entitlement. That’s not true. The entitlement train left the station 38 years ago. I believe what these changes to Medicare do is try and improve the entitlement by slowing down that train, one that was clearly headed for a fiscal wreck.

“I, frankly, believe that if we’re ever to get this runaway entitlement under control, it will be because of the market-based provisions in this bill. And that’s why we may look forward to new prescription drug coverage for 40 million seniors and people with disabilities, with the greatest benefit going to those who need it most.

“On behalf of 60 Plus and seniors all across America, I say ‘thank you’ to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle that stepped-up to meet the President’s challenge that ‘not another year go by without reforming Medicare’, a pledge he made from the East Room earlier this year on the 38th anniversary of Medicare.

“This is an extraordinary day not only for America’s seniors, but for other generations’ also as a reformed Medicare provides its first real step in cost containment, unleashing both public and private sector forces that will deliver drugs and health care services at reduced costs for the future.”