Presidential Documents

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Monday, February 20, 2006 Volume 42—Number 7 Pages 231–281 VerDate Aug 31 2005 08:32 Feb 22, 2006 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P07FEF4.017 P07FEF4 Contents Addresses and Remarks Communications to Congress—Continued See also Meetings With Foreign Leaders Supplemental appropriations for ongoing Florida, war on terror and a question-and- military and intelligence operations and answer session in Tampa—262 selected other international activities, letter transmitting—261 Health care initiatives, discussion—252 Interviews With the News Media National Medals of Science and Technology, presentation—232 Exchange with reporters in the Oval Office— NCAA football champions, University of Texas 259 at Austin—237 Meetings With Foreign Leaders Ohio, health care in Dublin—239 Colombia, President Uribe—259 Radio address—231 United Nations, Secretary-General Annan— World Series champion Chicago White Sox— 234 235 Statements by the President Anniversary of the death of former Prime Communications to Congress Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon—239 Supplementary Materials Gulf coast, letter transmitting request for Acts approved by the President—281 additional funds to support recovery Checklist of White House press releases—280 efforts—262 Digest of other White House National Science Board, message transmitting announcements—278 report—239 Nominations submitted to the Senate—279 Editor’s Note: The President was in Lake Buena Vista, FL, on February 17, the closing date of this issue. Releases and announcements issued by the Office of the Press Secretary but not received in time for inclusion in this issue will be printed next week. WEEKLY COMPILATION OF Distribution is made only by the Superintendent of Docu- ments, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents will be furnished by mail to domestic subscribers for $80.00 per year Published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Reg- ($137.00 for mailing first class) and to foreign subscribers for ister, National Archives and Records Administration, Washing- $93.75 per year, payable to the Superintendent of Documents, ton, DC 20408, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The ments contains statements, messages, and other Presidential charge for a single copy is $3.00 ($3.75 for foreign mailing). materials released by the White House during the preceding The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is also week. available on the Internet on the GPO Access service at http:// The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is pub- www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/index.html. lished pursuant to the authority contained in the Federal Reg- There are no restrictions on the republication of material ister Act (49 Stat. 500, as amended; 44 U.S.C. Ch. 15), under appearing in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Docu- regulations prescribed by the Administrative Committee of the ments. Federal Register, approved by the President (37 FR 23607; 1 CFR Part 10). VerDate Aug 31 2005 12:17 Feb 22, 2006 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 1249 Sfmt 1249 E:\PRESDOCS\P07FEF4.017 P07FEF4 VerDate Aug 31 2005 08:32 Feb 22, 2006 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7969 Sfmt 7969 E:\PRESDOCS\P07FEF4.017 P07FEF4 newmail.eps Week Ending Friday, February 17, 2006 The President’s Radio Address ferent plans that fit Dorothy’s needs. Doro- February 11, 2006 thy chose the least-expensive plan, and now, instead of paying $300 a month, she will pay Good morning. Today I want to talk to you about $36 a month for her medicines. As a about the new Medicare prescription drug result, Dorothy will save more than $3,000 coverage that went into effect on January 1st this year. of this year. For Dorothy and for the vast majority of When I came into office, I found a Medi- our seniors, the new prescription drug pro- care system that was antiquated and not gram is working well. Still, when you make meeting the needs of America’s seniors. The a big change in a program involving millions system would pay tens of thousands of dollars of people, there are bound to be some chal- for a surgery but not a few hundred dollars lenges, and this has been the case with the for the prescription drugs that could have new drug coverage. Some people had trouble prevented the surgery in the first place. So the first time they went to the pharmacy after working with Congress, we passed critical enrolling. Information for some beneficiaries legislation that modernizes Medicare, pro- was not transferred smoothly between Medi- vides seniors with more choices, and gives care, drug plans, and the States. And in the seniors better access to the prescription early days of the drug coverage, waiting times drugs they need. were far too long for many customers and Since the program went into effect 6 pharmacists who called Medicare or their weeks ago, more than 24 million people with drug plans to seek help. Medicare now have prescription drug cov- Secretary of Health and Human Services erage, and hundreds of thousands more are Mike Leavitt has traveled to 18 States in the enrolling each week. The competition in the past 3 weeks to meet with Governors and prescription drug market has been stronger make sure the prescription drug program is than expected and is lowering costs for tax- working for everyone, and we’re making good payers and seniors alike. This year, the Fed- progress. We’re ensuring that drug plans eral Government will spend 20 percent less have more up-to-date information on their overall on the Medicare drug benefit than beneficiaries, and we’re improving data-shar- projected just last July. The average premium ing among Medicare, health plans, and the that seniors pay is a third less than had been States. We have also extended the transition expected—just $25 per month instead of $37 period from 30 days to 90 days, to guarantee per month. And the typical senior will end that seniors do not go without the medicine up spending about half of what they used they need as they switch to a new drug plan. to spend on prescription drugs each year. We have also acted to ensure that phone calls Last month in Oklahoma City, a senior to the Medicare help line are now answered named Dorothy Brown signed up for Medi- with little or no waiting time, and we’re work- care prescription drug coverage. Dorothy has ing with insurers to help them do the same six prescriptions, and previously she paid on their phone lines. about $300 a month for her medicines. A Despite early challenges, the results so far Medicare enrollment counselor at a shopping are clear: The new Medicare prescription mall helped Dorothy log on to the Medicare drug plan is a good deal for seniors. If you’re web site, where she typed the information a Medicare recipient and have not yet signed on Dorothy’s Medicare card and listed up for prescription drug coverage, I encour- Dorothy’s prescriptions. When the counselor age you to review your options and choose was finished, the computer showed five dif- the plan that is right for you. Americans who 231 VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:54 Feb 22, 2006 Jkt 208250 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P07FET4.017 P07FET4 232 Feb. 11 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 have parents on Medicare should encourage Director of the National Science Foundation, and help them to sign up. Citizen groups, who is with us, Dr. Kathie Olsen, the Deputy faith-based organizations, health profes- Director of the National Science Foundation. sionals, and pharmacies across America are I want to thank the representatives from the working to help answer questions. Seniors National Science Foundation and members can also get information 24 hours a day by of the board of the National Science and calling 1–800–MEDICARE or by visiting the Technology Medals Foundation. Those were official Medicare web site at medicare.gov. the folks who decided that you won. [Laugh- Prescription drug coverage under Medi- ter] care has been available for just a few weeks, I thank Dr. Bill Jeffrey who is with us, but its benefits will last for decades to come. Director of the National Institute of Stand- I was proud to sign this Medicare reform into ards and Technology. I want to thank the law. And because we acted, millions of Amer- previous recipients of the National Medals ican seniors are now saving money, getting of Science and Technology who’ve joined us. the life-saving drugs they need, and receiving I thank my friends Congressman Sherry the modern health care they deserve. Boehlert, as well as Dave Reichert from the Thank you for listening. United States Congress for being here. Thank you both for coming. Most of all, NOTE: The address was recorded at 7:10 a.m. on thank you all for joining us. February 10 in the Cabinet Room at the White The medals I’m about to present are the House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February highest award a President can bestow for as- 11. The transcript was made available by the Of- tounding achievement in science and tech- fice of the Press Secretary on February 10 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. nology. They recognize work that has helped The Office of the Press Secretary also released expand the horizons of human knowledge. a Spanish language transcript of this address. The National Medal of Science honors those whose research has enhanced our under- standing of life and the world around us.

Load more