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Congressional Corner - Support for Seniors Legislation
By Representative Todd Russell Platts (PA) Congress must always thoroughly consider the challenges facing our nation's citizens who are living on fixed incomes when deciding federal budget priorities and developing policies. I am a co-sponsor of four bills with which members of TREA Senior Citizens League are no doubt already familiar. Each would help our nation's seniors better make ends meet. Second, the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act (H.R. 328) would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to design and implement a system that allows pharmacists and wholesalers in the United States to re-import prescription drugs approved by the FDA from Canada, the European Union, and other industrialized nations. Americans wrongly pay anywhere from 30% to 300% more for their prescription drugs than do Canadians, Europeans, and residents of other industrialized nations due to price controls in those countries. These price controls cause American consumers to subsidize the rest of the world's prescription drug research and development. Finally, the Notch Fairness Act (H.R. 615) would improve benefits for "notch seniors" born during the 1917-1926 period, and The Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act (H.R. 602) would ensure that those who served our country in the military have access to the same quality of health care as federal employees, including members of Congress and their staffs. Senior citizens have worked their entire lives, struggled through tough times, and sacrificed to make our country what it is today. Society must seek to do right by them. As a member of Congress, I pledge that I will continue to support legislative efforts to honor our seniors. To learn more about Representative Todd R. Platt visit his web site at: http://www.house.gov/platts/ June 2006 | ||||||||
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