For the fifth year in a row, Congress has attempted to help senior citizens afford the rising costs of prescription drugs. This bill would give seniors drug coverage whether through private insurance plans, if they remained in the Medicare program, or through new private health networks (which function much like preferred provider organizations, or PPO's) if seniors switched out of Medicare. During debate on the prescription drug bill, Senator Daschle (D-SD) proposed an amendment favored by Progressives which would have prevented private insurers from charging any more than 10% above the national average for monthly prescription drug premiums. Despite strong support from Democrats, all fifty-one Republicans voted against Daschle's measure and the amendment was defeated 39-56.