Representative Robert Wexler, Florida, 19th District:

In the face of the ever dwindling buying power of Social Security benefits, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) is simply not keeping up with higher costs of pharmaceuticals, homeowners insurance, and rising property taxes.

I completely agree that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which determines the COLA, does not accurately reflect the cost of goods for seniors who spend a larger proportion of their money on medical costs, including prescription drugs, which have increased by as much as 500 percent. Furthermore, this index does not include basic expenses such as food, medication, and energy expenditures. Clearly, these deficiencies in Social Security formulations are unacceptable.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is conducting studies to determine the true cost of living for seniors, the CPI - E. As you know, in order to implement this new measure, Congressman Charles Gonzalez has introduced H.R. 1953, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act. You will be pleased to know that I am a sponsor of this measure. Please rest assured that I will continue to work vigorously with the BLS to obtain accurate numbers to be used for computing senior benefits.

You may also be interested to know that I have filed legislation, the Medicare Prescription Drug Affordability Act (H.R. 5317) that will reduce the cost of the Medicare prescription drug program by limiting the Medicare Part D premium increases to no more than Social Security COLA increases. My legislation will also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.

Additionally, I am currently supporting several pieces of legislation that would ease such burdens on seniors faced with increasing healthcare costs. Accordingly, I strongly support drug reimportation from Canada and other industrialized countries. I am also in support of the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (H.R. 4), which mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.

America's seniors deserve the best possible health care that this government can offer. Please know that I will continue to support legislation that will help seniors keep more of their hard-earned money.

Back to Responses