May 1, 2000 —SENATE 6101 SENATE—Monday, May 1, 2000

The Senate met at 10:01 a.m. and was bill. As a reminder, the vote on the ment’s failure to deliver on the prom- called to order by the President pro override has been scheduled for ise of health care for life. The phar- tempore [Mr. THURMOND]. 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. macy benefit is the number one issue I thank my colleagues for their at- and priority of military retirees, since PRAYER tention. pharmacy needs are the biggest drain The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John f on the pensions of military retirees. Expanding the BRAC pharmacy benefit Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: MORNING BUSINESS Gracious Lord, our hearts are filled to all Medicare-eligible military retir- with an attitude of gratitude for the Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask ees is the right thing to do for service gifts of life: intellect, emotion, will, that the Senate members who have dedicated their strength, fortitude, and courage. We begin a period of morning business lives to protect and serve our country. are privileged to live in this free land until 1 p.m. today, with the time equal- Approximately 450,000 of the 1.3 mil- You have so richly blessed. ly divided in the usual form, with Sen- lion Medicare-eligible military retirees You have created each of us to know, ators speaking for up to 5 minutes already have access to a retail and and love, and serve You. Thanksgiving each, with the following exception: mail order pharmacy benefit. This was is the memory of our hearts. You have Senator THOMAS or his designee from the result of DOD base closures. When shown us that gratitude is the parent 10:30 to 11 a.m. the Base Realignment and Closure of all other virtues. Without gratitude, The PRESIDENT pro tempore. With- Commission recommended the closure our lives miss the greatness You in- out objection, it is so ordered. of several military bases, part of what tended, and we remain proud, self-cen- Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I sug- was lost was access to pharmaceutical tered, and limited. Thanksgiving is the gest the absence of a . benefits for many retired military per- thermostat of our souls opening us to The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The sonnel who were receiving their pre- the inflow of Your Spirit and the real- clerk will call the roll. scription drugs benefits at those facili- ization of even greater blessings. The assistant legislative clerk pro- ties. To address their needs, Congress We also thank You for the problems ceeded to call the roll. created the BRAC pharmacy benefit that make us more dependent on You Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask which was a mail order, as well as a re- for guidance and strength. When we unanimous consent that the order for tail benefit, for needed prescriptions. have turned to You in the past, You the be rescinded. Unfortunately, that benefit only cov- have given us leadership skills that we The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ered about a third of all of those who needed. Thank You, Lord, for taking us THOMAS). Without objection, it is so or- have retired, so we had a dual system where we are with all our human weak- dered. where, by accident of where you had re- nesses, and using us for Your glory. f tired and by the results of the Base Closure Commission, some retirees re- May we always be distinguished by the PHARMACY BENEFITS FOR ceived the benefit and others did not. immensity of our gratitude for the way MILITARY RETIREES that You pour out Your wisdom and vi- This legislation would treat military sion when we humbly call out to You Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I retirees across the country the same. for help. We are profoundly grateful. thank the distinguished chairman of Basically this bill makes prescription You are our Lord and Saviour. Amen. the Senate Armed Services Committee, drugs accessible and available to mili- Mr. WARNER, as well as my colleagues tary retirees over the age of 65, at a f on the committee, Senator LEVIN, our very reasonable cost—a 20 percent co- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE , and especially Sen- pay when they acquire the prescription The Honorable CRAIG THOMAS, a Sen- ator SNOWE, for their efforts in doing drugs in retail pharmacy and an $8 co- ator from the State of Wyoming, led the right thing for our Medicare-eligi- pay if they buy them through mail the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: ble military retirees. order. There is no deductible and no en- Today, there was introduced in the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the rollment fee. This is recognition that United States of America, and to the Repub- Senate, on behalf of Senator WARNER, there are incredibly important and sig- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, legislation that will have an extremely nificant health needs for our retirees. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. positive impact on our military retir- This pharmacy benefit is one that our f ees and their ability to acquire pre- military retirees richly deserve. scription drugs. This is enormously im- The BRAC pharmacy benefit was ini- RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING portant for our retirees and will be tiated by the Congress in the Fiscal MAJORITY LEADER strongly supported in this body. Hope- Year 1994 Defense Authorization Act to The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The fully, it will be a part of the defense ensure that Medicare-eligible retirees, Senator from Wyoming is recognized. authorization bill that will come to the who depended on the base’s medical f floor in the next few weeks. treatment facilities for their pharmacy This initiative gives all military re- needs, would be taken care of after the SCHEDULE tirees over 65 the same pharmacy ben- base was closed. This benefit includes Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, for the efit that one-third of them already the mail order pharmacy program for information of all Senators, following have under the Base Realignment and the co-payment of $8 for up to a 90-day morning business, the Senate will Closure pharmacy program, a mail supply and use of the Tricare retail begin consideration of S. 2, the Ele- order and a retail pharmacy benefit. It network pharmacies for a 20-percent mentary and Secondary Education Re- makes sense, and is only fair that all co-pay for up to a 30-day supply. authorization Act. It is expected that military retirees over 65 have one con- We ask our armed forces to leave this legislation will consume most of sistent pharmacy benefit. their families, risk their lives, fight the week. However, by previous con- This pharmacy benefit is a signifi- our wars, help countries ravaged by sent, on Tuesday morning the Senate cant and affordable first step in healing disasters, and enforce peace all over will begin debate on overriding the the growing rift with the military re- the world. Americans who devote their President’s veto of the nuclear waste tiree community caused by the Govern- lives to serving our country deserve

● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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