Statement By James L. Martin, President, 60 Plus Association

White House Ceremony, July 12, 2001

Washington, D.C.– James L. Martin, President of the 60 Plus Association, hailed President George W. Bush’s prescription drug benefit proposal “as fulfilling a campaign promise that senior citizens will receive a benefit which will help them meet the high costs of prescription drugs.”

George W. Bush promised during the campaign that he would provide a prescription drug benefit which would help senior citizens meet the escalating costs of medications. He has once again fulfilled a campaign promise. Senior citizens will greatly benefit from this assistance.
The prescription drug discount card President Bush proposes will enable seniors to gain immediate relief while the Bush Administration and Congress work on a long-term reform of the Medicare system.

President Bush has delivered for senior citizens. Our senior citizens owe him a debt of gratitude. No senior should have to make a choice between putting food on the table or being able to afford the prescription drugs they need. Seniors are pleased to learn of President Bush’s plan to ensure that their golden years are spent doing all those things that bring joy to their lives and their families.

I had the opportunity to submit testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the House Commerce Committee last year urging a prescription drug coverage for seniors which would include important principles of coverage, flexibility, and resistance to excessive regulation. The President’s proposal and principles meet these needs. We now need Congress to work to reform the Medicare program.

The 60 Plus Association is a national, nonpartisan senior citizens advocacy organization of half a million members.

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