S.Amdt. 7

SA 7. Mr. NELSON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the concurrent resolution S. Con. Res. 3, setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year
2017 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal
years 2018 through 2026; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:

At the appropriate place, add the following:

SEC.___. BUDGET POINT OF ORDER ON CLOSING THE GAP IN COVERAGE
IN THE MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PROGRAM.

(a) Findings.--The Senate finds that--
(1) provisions included in health reform legislation to
close the gap in coverage (often referred to as the ``donut
hole'') in the Medicare prescription drug program under part
D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
10 et seq.) have saved over 5,000,000 seniors across the
United States more than $5,000,000,000 and have increased
access to lifesaving medications;
[(2) in Florida, 355,360 seniors saved $351,000,000, or an
average of $987 per beneficiary, on prescription drugs in
2015; and]
(3) absent the protections provided by such provisions,
seniors will have to choose between their health and other
basic necessities, including food and housing.
(b) In General.--It shall not be in order in the Senate to
consider any legislation that repeals the provisions included
in health reform legislation to close the gap in coverage in
the Medicare prescription drug program

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under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395w-101 et seq.).
(c) Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be waived or
suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-
fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative
vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly
chosen and sworn, shall be required to sustain an appeal of
the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under this
section.

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