Schiff and Local Senior Leaders Discuss a Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on Medicare's 38th Birthday!
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Adam Schiff hosted a Medicare Town hall today – Medicare's 38th birthday – at the Pasadena Senior Center.
Schiff and representatives from the AARP, Older Women's League (OWL) and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) discussed efforts to provide seniors with a prescription drug benefit that is voluntary, available to everyone and guaranteed under Medicare. Nikki Campbell, a member of OWL, talked about her experiences buying expensive prescription drugs and her efforts to coordinate seniors' trips to Canada to buy cheaper medicine.
"When President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill that created the Medicare program thirty-eight years ago today, we made a promise to our nation's seniors," Rep. Schiff said today. "Today, we are working to make the Medicare program even stronger. With the cost of prescription drugs rising at an ever-increasing rate, it is incumbent on us to work together to provide a prescription drug benefit within the Medicare system."
"The House Majority Leadership back in Washington opposes a guaranteed, affordable prescription drug benefit under Medicare. As we blow out the candles today for Medicare's 38th birthday, let's join together in a renewed commitment to protect Medicare and make sure it has many more birthdays to come," Rep. Schiff said.
This summer, the House of Representatives debated the Medicare issue and passed a controversial bill by one vote. The House also passed a bill, supported by Schiff, which allows for the reimportation of American-made drugs from 25 foreign countries, thus allowing seniors to buy prescription drugs at a greatly reduced cost. The final Medicare bill will be debated in a conference committee later in the year and Schiff encouraged all the town hall attendees to rally together in support of a Medicare prescription drug benefit that is: Affordable, reducing the exorbitant prices of drugs; with Guaranteed benefits; Within Medicare; and Available to all seniors, regardless of where they live.
Marvin Schachter, of the California Commission on Aging, Eugene Williams of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Nikki Campbell of the Older Women's League and Ernie Powell of the AARP joined Schiff at the Medicare Town hall.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.