Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (CA-32) joined House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-9) and other House Democrats at a press conference to present the Democrats’ “Prescription for Change,” which offers key improvements to the Republican Prescription Drug program.  The Democratic plan would ensure that seniors and people with disabilities can receive the simple, affordable, and reliable benefit they have earned after a lifetime of hard work.  Below are Solis' remarks: 

“Good morning!  I’m Congresswoman Hilda Solis from the 32nd Congressional District of California. I am proud to join Leader Pelosi and my other colleagues here today.  As my colleagues have stated, the confusion surrounding the Bush plan falls short in helping seniors and people with disabilities access affordable prescription drugs. In fact, La Opinion, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the country, has reported that Latino seniors are hitting the so-called donut hole and can’t make ends meet.  After a lifetime of hard work, America’s seniors have earned their right to a dignified retirement.

“The Democrats’ Prescription for Change will ensure that our seniors have a prescription drug plan that is reliable.  Under the Republican prescription drug law, prescription drug plans can change – at any time and charge more.  It also creates administrative hurdles that make it burdensome for beneficiaries to access their prescriptions.

“Under the new Democratic Prescription for Change, we will stop these types of actions and ensure that seniors have a prescription drug plan that is reliable.  We will also ensure that middle-income Medicare seniors get the drug coverage assistance they need by eliminating complex barriers.  We will prohibit drug plans from increasing co-payments and creating burdensome administrative hurdles.

“Earlier this year, I stood in front of the Ramirez Pharmacy in East Los Angeles alongside with seniors, community leaders, and medical professionals to call on the Administration to reform Part D.  The pharmacists spoke about how delays in Medicaid reimbursements make it difficult for them to provide drugs to low-income seniors, many of whom are Latino and African-American.

“Democrats will reverse that course of action.  Our seniors need help and Democrats are the party to deliver it.  We will continue to put seniors first and fight for an affordable, simplistic, and reliable drug plan. Thank you.”