The committee, today, heard testimony regarding the new Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The bill which recently passed Congress, would expand Medicare pharmacy coverage for all senior citizens. Under this new federal bill, New Jersey is slated to receive $4 billion over the next ten years to implement this program, as well as expand and improve existing pharmaceutical aid programs such as PAAD and Senior Gold,

Both written and oral testimony before the Federal Relations Committee by AARP stated that, "it is clear that if the state makes the right choices then PAAD and Senior Gold beneficiaries will be protected and the State will reap substantial savings, Such savings should be fully utilized to preserve and improve these programs," Family USA, a nonprofit advocate for affordable pharmaceutical care also testified and called the legislation a "good start."

"The federal infusion of monies will enable New Jersey to improve and expand existing programs. Why any New Jersey representative would vote against this bill is perplexing to me," stated Assemblyman Pennacchio. "We would like to give the Senator the opportunity to explain himself.