Having worked to ease the costs of health care for seniors, Congressman Mike Rogers was appointed today to the House Prescription Drug Action Team by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.

“When it comes to health care, we cannot wait one day longer to ease the burden on Alabama’s seniors,” Rogers said. “We need a Medicare prescription drug plan now – one that lowers drug costs, gives senior citizens the right to choose what’s best for them, and helps those most in need.”

 The Prescription Drug Action Team is a diverse group of Republican lawmakers dedicated to strengthening Medicare and helping seniors get a prescription drug benefit. Action Team members are responsible for getting constituent input on the specifics of a prescription drug plan, and helping formulate those ideas into legislation.

 “House Republicans are very concerned about rapidly rising health care costs and how best we can help ease that burden on America’s senior citizens,” Speaker Hastert said. “I am pleased to have Congressman Rogers on the Action Team and look forward to hearing his ideas for strengthening Medicare and adding a prescription drug benefit for seniors.”

 The Speaker’s announcement came just hours after lawmakers passed a federal budget that provides $400 billion to modernize Medicare and include a prescription drug benefit. Hastert said his goal is to pass the legislation before Memorial Day.