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MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WREELED BACK MY
REMAINING TIME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRWOMAN.
I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR
MS. FOXX OF NORTH CAROLINA.
BUT GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING
DOES NOT DO ABORTIONS.
THERE'S NO PAYMENT FOR SERVICES
IN THE LAWS.
IT'S ABOUT SALARIES, BENEFITS,
AND PAYING FACULTY.
TEACHING FACILITIES WILL PAY
FOR ABORTIONS NO MORE THAN
GRADUATE CARE HAS PAID FOR
ABORTIONS FOR 45 YEARS.
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO MAKE ALL
HYDE AMENDMENT.
THE PROVISIONS SUMMIT TO THE
ALL PROVISIONS OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SUBJECT TO
THE HYDE AMENDMENT.
IT ESTABLISH ASSET OF POLICIES
TO ENSURE THAT FEDERAL FUNDS
ARE NOT USED FOR ABORTION
HYDE AMENDMENT.
SERVICES CONSISTENT WITH THE
THE PRESIDENT'S ORDER
ON.
REINFORCES WHAT WE ALL AGREE
NO ONE IS HERE CLAIMING WE
SHOULD USE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR
ABORTION EXCEPT IN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES, WHETHER UNDER
THIS PROGRAM OR ELSEWHERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER LAY ORE OF
PROTECTION CODIFIED IN
PERMANENT LAW, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
THE COATS AMENDMENT CLEARLY
PROHIBITS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FROM DISCRIMINATING
AGAINST ANY PHYSICIAN,
POST-GRADUATE PHYSICIAN
TRAINING PROGRAM BECAUSE THE
SENT I -- ENTITY REFUSES TO
PARTICIPATE IN BAY AABORTION
TRAINING.
THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATIONS
VEHICLE.
IT'S NOT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER,
IT'S THE LAW OF THE LAND.
THAT'S WHY I SAY THIS AMENDMENT
IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A
PROBLEM.
THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM WITH
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
WHETHER THEY BE TEACHING
HOSPITALS, WHETHER THEY BE
COMMUNITY-BASED CENTERS THAT
THIS BILL IS SUBJECT TO TO, AND
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE TO SPEAK IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS DANGEROUS
AMENDMENT.
I HAVE WITH ME A LETTER FROM
THE AMERICAN CONGRESS OF
OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS
OPPOSING THE FOXX AMENDMENT TO
H.R. 1216 WHICH I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO HAVE INSERTED INTO
THE RECORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN'S
REQUEST IS COVERED BY REQUEST
FOR YEN LEAVE.
LAST MONTH THE
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY BROUGHT US
TO THE BRINK OF GOVERNMENT SHUT
DOWN OVER ITS DISAPPROVAL OF
PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
THIS TIME INSTEAD
OF SAYING CONGRESS KNOWS BETTER
ABOUT A WOMAN AND HER FAMILY
ABOUT HER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
CARE, THIS TAKES ONE STEP
FURTHER AND SAYS CONGRESS KNOWS
BETTER THAN MEDICAL DOCTORS AND
EDUCATORS ABOUT WHAT OUR
MEDICAL TRAINING CURRICULA
SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED
RESTRICTION, ONE THAT GOS
AGAINST THE ACCREDITATION
COUNCIL AND FENS MEDICAL ETHICS
THEMSELVES.
MEDICAL EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED
TO PREPARE OUR FUTURE DOCTORS
FOR WHATEVER THEY MAY COME
ACROSS IN THEIR PRACTICE.
THIS INCLUDES WOMEN WHOSE LIVES
ARE IN DANGER DUE TO THEIR
PREGNANCY FOR WHICH TERMINATING
A PREGNANCY IS THE ONLY WAY
THAT WOMAN WILL STAY ALIVE.
KEEPING FUTURE PROVIDERS FROM
LEARNING THESE PROCEDURES, AND
IT IS AN OPTION THAT THEY MAY
CHOOSE ONLY IF THEY CHOOSE TO
LEARN IT, PUTS THESE WOMEN AT
RISK.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT ONE'S VIEWS
ON WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS,
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE OUR
FUTURE MEDICAL PROVIDERS SHOULD
BE TRAINED AND READY FOR ANY
MEDICAL EMERGENCY THEY MIGHT
ENCOUNTER.
TO PLAY POLITICS WITH THEIR
EDUCATION AND THE LIVES OF
WOMEN IS AN EMBARRASSMENT.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS TIME FOR
THIS CONGRESS TO LEARN TO TRUST
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
TO TRUST OUR DOCTORS TO TRUST
OUR FAMILIES, AND TO TRUST
WOMEN.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO H.R.
1216, THE UNDERLYING BILL.
AS A RESIDENT OF UPDATE NEW
YORK, WHERE MUCH ATTENTION HAS
BEEN GIVEN TO TODAY'S SPEC
ELECTION FAR CONGRESSIONAL
SEAT, PEOPLE ARE SAYING LOUD
AND CLEAR, HANDS OFF MY
MEDICARE.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE
ONCE AGAIN PUTTING US ON THE
ROAD TO RUIN.
THEY ARE PUSHING FORWARD TO END
A PROGRAM THAT 46 MILLION
SENIORS AND DISABLED
INDIVIDUALS DEPEND ON FOR THEIR
HEALTH CARE.
THIS GROSS INJUSTICE IS MADE
MORE EGREGIOUS BY THE FACT THAT
THIS IS DONE NOT TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET TO EXPAND AND PERM
NEPTLY GUARANTEE EVEN BIGGER
TAX CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES AN
BILLIONAIRES AND GIVE TAX
BREAKS TO SOME OF THE MOST
PROFITABLE COMPANIES, INCLUDING
I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF TALK
OIL.
ABOUT THE NEED TO MAKE TOUGH
CHOICES THESE DAY.
THE AVERAGE SENIOR ON MEDICARE
EARNS JUST OVER $19,000 A YEAR.
ONE QUARTER OF MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES SUFFERS FROM A
COGNITIVE OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT.
I ASK MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES,
WHAT IS IT ABOUT STRIPPING
THESE AMERICANS BARE OF THEIR
HEALTH AND ECONOMIC SECURITY
THAT WALL FIS AS TOUGH?
THERE'S NOTHING TOUGH ABOUT
STEALING FROM THE POOR OR WEAK
TO GIVE TO THE RICH.
OUR SENIORS KNOW ABOUT ALL TOUGH
CHOICES DOIFMENT BUY GROWS RISS
OR PRESCRIPTIONS?
DO I PAY RENT OR MEDICAL BILLS.
IT HURTS BUT HOW MUCH WILL IT
COST?
THESE ARE THE TOUGH CHOICES,
THESE ARE LIFE AND DEATH
CHOICES.
WITH THE PASSAGE OF MEDICARE IN
1965 WE ENTERED INTO A COVENEBT
WITH EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN
CITIZEN.
A SENIORS WILL BE ON THEIR OWN
WITH A MEASLY VOUCHER AND FORCED
TO BUY INSURANCE IN THE PRIVATE
MARKET WHERE ALL DECISIONS WILL
BE PROFIT-DRIVEN.
MORE PROFITS FOR INSURANCE
COMPANIES ON THE BACKS OF
SENIORS.
ME.
SOUNDS LIKE A REPUBLICAN PLAN TO
THIS NEW VOUCHER PROGRAM AMOUNTS
TO A RATIONING.
THE VOUCHER IS NOT LINKED TO
INCREASES IN HEALTH CARE COSTS,
YET THE COST OF PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE HAVE RISEN OVER 5,000%
SINCE THE CREATION OF MEDICARE.
5,000%.
THE ANALYSIS OF THE NONPARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE HAS
ESTIMATED THAT IN LESS THAN 20
YEARS THESE VOUCHERS WOULD PAY
JUST 32 CENTS ON EVERY $1 THAT A
SENIOR WOULD SPEND ON HEALTH
CARE PREMIUMS.
NOW, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
HAS REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THIS
BUDGET GIVES SENIORS THE SAME
COVERAGE AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
WELL, AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
MYSELF, I KNOW THAT OUR HEALTH
PLANS PAY FOR ABOUT 72 CENTS ON
EVERY $1 OF HEALTH CARE, NOT 32
AMERICA KNOWS THAT LEGISLATION
CENTS.
IN CONGRESS CARRIES A STATEMENT
OF PRIORITIES AND VALUES.
NOT PURELY DOLLARS AND CENTS.
AND WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE TO
CUT TRAINING FOR PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS WHO ARE ON THE FRONT
LINES NOT ONLY OF KEEPING OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITIES
HEALTHY, BUT ALSO OF LOWERING
HEALTH CARE COSTS WITH EARLY,
SIMPLE TREATMENTS?
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO STAND
WITH OUR SENIORS AND STAND UP
FOR MIDDLE CLASS PRIORITIES.
LET'S DEFEND OUR MIDDLE CLASS,
LET'S DEFEND OUR WORKING
FAMILIES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THIS BILL AND WITH THAT, MADAM
CHAIR, I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TO UNDERMINE OUR
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
CONSTITUENTS' ACCESS TO
I RECENTLY HEARD
FROM MY CONSTITUENT FROM
MASSACHUSETTS NAMED PHIL WHO
RELIES ON MEDICARE FOR HIS
HEALTH COVERAGE.
HIS WIFE'S DIABETES TREATMENT
AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE ALSO
COVERED THROUGH MEDICARE AND
THEY HAVE BOTH PAID INTO
MEDICARE ALL THEIR LIVES THROUGH
PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS.
HE REMARKED TO MY OFFICE THAT
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THEY COULD
MEET THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
TODAY WITHOUT MEDICARE.
HE AND HIS WIFE ARE NOT ALONE.
EACH DAY THOUSANDS OF SENIORS
LIKE THEM USE MEDICARE TO COVER
THE COSTS OF DOCTORS'
APPOINTMENTS, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
AS WELL AS ROUTINE TESTS AND
TREATMENTS.
UNDER THE BUDGET THAT HOUSE
REPUBLICANS PASSED IN APRIL AND
THAT THE SENATE IS SET TO
CONSIDER THIS WEEK THE MEDICARE
PROGRAM THAT SENIORS HAVE RELIED
ON FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS TO
MEET THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS AND
EXPENSES WOULD BE ELIMINATED.
IN ITS PLACE WOULD BE A VOUCHER
SYSTEM THAT PAYS A SMALL LUMP
SUM TO PRIVATE INSURERS TO COVER
SENIORS.
ANY COST NOT COVERED BY THAT
PAYMENT WOULD FALL TO SENIORS TO
PAY OR FOREGO COVERAGE.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE ARGUE THAT
ELIMINATION OF MEDICARE IS
NEEDED TO HELP REDUCE THE
DEFICIT AND THAT THE SAME
BENEFITS THAT SENIORS NOW ENJOY
UNDER MEDICARE WILL BE RECOMMEND
CATED IN THE PRIVATE INSURANCE
-- REPLICATED IN THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE MARKET.
NOT SO IN REALITY THEIR PLAN
WILL RESULT IN A FAR -- NOT SO.
IN REALITY THEIR PLAN WILL
RESULT IN A FAR LOWER CARE FOR
SENIORS WHILE TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS WILL BE ADDED TO THE
NATIONAL DEBT.
RATHER THAN TAKING STEPS TO
REDUCE THE UNDERLYING INCREASES
IN HEALTH CARE COSTS WHICH IN
TURN DRIVE UP THE COST OF
MEDICARE, THEIR PLAN SIMPLY
SHIFTS THOSE COSTS TO SENIORS.
THE VALUE OF THE VOUCHERS THAT
WOULD REPLACE MEDICARE WOULD NOT
KEEP PACE WITH RISING HEALTH
CARE COSTS, SO SENIORS WILL BE
INCREASINGLY REQUIRED TO MAKE UP
THE DIFFERENCE.
JUST EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE
PROGRAM'S START, A VOUCH ALREADY
COVER LESS THAN 1/3 OF THE COST
OF A PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
PACKAGE WITH THE SAME BENEFITS
AS MEDICARE CURRENTLY PROVIDES.
LEAVING SENIORS TO COVER THE
REST.
ACCORDING TO THE NONPARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, THE
AVERAGE SENIOR WILL END UP
SPENDING NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH OF
THEIR INCOME ON HEALTH CARE THAN
UNDER THE CURRENT MEDICARE
SYSTEM.
THAT IS WHY A.A.R. -- AARP
RELEASED A STATEMENT WARNING
THAT THE BIGGET, QUOTE, WOULD
RESULT IN A LARGE COST SHIFT IN
THE FUTURE EMPLOYEES.
THAN TACKLING SKYROCKETING
THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL, RATHER
HEALTH CARE COSTS, WOULD SIMPLY
SHIFT THOSE COSTS ONTO THE BACKS
OF PEOPLE IN MEDICARE.
UNQUOTE.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON COST
CONTROL MEASURES THAT WOULD
BRING DOWN THE COST OF MEDICARE,
THE BUDGET CLAIMS COST SAVINGS
BUT ONLY BY PASSING THOSE COSTS
DIRECTLY ONTO OUR SENIORS.
FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE COSTS HAVE
TYPICALLY GROWN FASTER IN THE
PRIVATE MARKET THAN IN MEDICARE
THE COSTS FACED BY SENIORS UNDER
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN WILL BE MUCH
HIGHER THAN THE COSTS FACED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ARGUED THAT
SENIORS WON'T BE AFFECTED BY
THESE COSTS FOR YEARS TO COME,
BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOUSE BUDGET
IMMEDIATELY REOPENS A
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DOUGHNUT HOLE
FOR CURRENT SENIORS THAT WAS
FIXED WITH PASSAGE OF LAST
YEAR'S HEALTH REFORM LAW.
IT ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES
COSTS FOR SENIORS NOW RESIDING
IN NURSING HOMES AND FOR THEIR
ADULT CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR PARENTS'
CARE.
DESPITE BEING PRESENTED AS A
SOLUTION FOR OUR DEFICIT, THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD STILL ADD
$8 TRILLION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
THESE NEW DEBTS ARE INCURRED IN
PART BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET
PROPOSAL ALSO SLASHES TAXES FOR
THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS WHILE
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE BILLIONS
IN TAX BREAKS FOR OIL COMPANIES
AND OTHER PREFERRED INDUSTRIES.
REAL DEFICIT REDUCTION WILL
REQUIRE A BLEND OF SPENDING
REDUCTIONS, NEW REVENUE AND
ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO CONTROL
RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS.
BUT SIMPLY SHIFTING THOSE COSTS
ONTO SENIORS BY ELIMINATING
MEDICARE WILL PROVE AS
UNSUSTAINABLE FOR OUR NATION'S
CRISIS WE FACE.
WELL-BEING AS THE CURRENT BUDGET
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
TIME.
YIELDS BACK THE BALANCE OF HER
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ILLINOIS IS RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE FOX
AMENDMENT -- FOXX AMENDMENT AND
TO THE UNDERLYING BILL, H.R.
1216, TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE ACT TO CONVERT FUNDING
FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
AND QUALIFIED TEACHING HEALTH
CENTERS FROM DIRECT
APPROPRIATIONS TO AN
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
THIS BILL WOULD ELIMINATE
MANDATORY FUNDING THAT
ESTABLISHES NEW OR EXPANDING
PROGRAMS FOR MEDICALS REMAIN
DENTS IN TEACHING HEALTH CENTERS
AND UNOBLIGATED FUNDS PREVIOUSLY
APPROPRIATED TO THE GRANT
PROGRAM.
UNDER POLICIES CURRENTLY BEING
CONSIDERED BY SOME IN THE HOUSE
MAJORITY, ACADEMIC MEDICAL
CENTERS AND TEACHING HOSPITALS
FACE AS MUCH AS $60 BILLION IN
CUTS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO
MEDICARE FUNDING FOR INDIRECT
MEDICAL EDUCATION AND DIRECT
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION.
THESE CUTS WOULD REDUCE INDIRECT
MEDICAL EDUCATION PAYMENTS BY
60% FROM THE CURRENT LEVEL AT
5.5% TO 2.2%, CAP THE GRADUATE
MEDICAL EDUCATION PAYMENTS AT $1
-- 120% OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE
SALARY PAID TO RESIDENTS.
IT WOULD REDUCE FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS IN
GIVING OUR PRESENT SITUATION
TRAINING IS WRONG PUBLIC POLICY.
WITH THE SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY
CARE AND FAMILY PRACTICE
PHYSICIANS AND THE EXPECTED
FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR POPULATION,
IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THE
REPUBLICANS TO END THE PRESENT
STRUCTURE OF MEDICARE.
IN 2010 47.5 MILLION PEOPLE WERE
COVERED BY MEDICARE.
WE HAVE 39.6 MILLION AT THE AGE
OF 65 AND OLDER AND 7.9 MILLION
DISABLED.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET PLAN IS A
VOUCHER PLAN THAT WOULD RAISE
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND WOULD
IMMEDIATELY CREATE HIGHER COSTS
FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR OUR
SENIORS AND DISABLED.
THIS PLAN WOULD END MEDICARE'S
ENTITLEMENT OF GUARANTEED
BENEFITS AND PROMOTE RATIONING
BY PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES
WHO WOULD MAKE DECISIONS ON
APPROVING OUR DISAPPROVING
TREATMENTS FOR OUR SENIORS AND
THE DISABLED.
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM IS
EFFICIENTLY MANAGED, DEVOTING
LESS THAN 2% OF ITS FUNDING TO
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
MED CAR HAISE DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVED THE QUALITY -- MEDICARE
HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS AND
THE DISABLED.
IT IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF
HEALTH COVERAGE IN THE NATION.
DEMOCRATS ARE COMMITTED TO
STRENGTHENING MEDICARE, NOT
TEARING IT DOWN.
UNDER THE GUISE OF REFORM,
REPUBLICANS DESIRE TO END
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.
LAST YEAR THE REPUBLICANS
PROMISED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THAT JOBS WOULD BE THEIR NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY.
WELL, I ASK, WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
BUT INSTEAD THEY WANT TO MAKE
DRACONIAN CUTS TO PROGRAMS TO
HELP SENIORS AND THE DISABLED,
THE MIDDLE CLASS, THE POOR AND
THE NEEDY AND YET PROVIDE TAX
CUTS FOR OVER $1 TRILLION TO
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
AND SO WE ASK, WHERE ARE THE
JOBS AND WHERE ARE THE
OPPORTUNITIES?
THE ESTIMATED ONE-YEAR IMPACT OF
ANTICIPATED GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION CUTS FOR ILLINOIS ARE
$144 MILLION.
FOR INDIRECT MEDICAL EDUCATION
AND $39 MILLION FOR GRADUATE
MEDICAL EDUCATION WHICH TOTALS
$183 MILLION.
IF THEY ARE -- IF THERE ARE NO
CARE.
DOCTORS, THERE CAN BE NO MEDICAL
I URGE THAT WE VOTE AGAINST
THESE MEASURES AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL, H.R. 1216,
WHICH WOULD UNDERMINE THE
TEACHING HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM
WHICH TRAINS PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS.
MADAM SPEAKER AND MEMBERS, THIS
IS JUST ONE MORE ATTEMPT BY THE
REPUBLICANS TO DISMANTLE HEALTH
CARE REFORM.
OF PRIMARY DOCTORS.
THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE TRAINING
WE NEED MORE PRIMARY DOCTORS
EVEN IF THERE WAS NO HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY WHO HAVE
NO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
PHYSICIANS.
OUR NATION IS FACING A SERIOUS
SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS, PRIMARY CARE
PHYSICIANS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
THEY'RE AT THE FIRST POINT OF
CONTACT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES
WHO NEED BASIC HEALTH CARE
SERVICES, WHETHER THEY'RE
WORKING PEOPLE WITH
EMPLOYER-PROVIDED HEALTH
INSURANCE, LOW INCOME CHILDREN
ON MEDICAID OR SENIORS ON
MEDICARE.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE IT
CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT ACCESS TO BASIC HEALTH
CARE SERVICES.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2012 TURNS MEDICARE INTO A
VOUCHER PROGRAM.
SLASHES MEDICAID BY MORE THAN
$700 BILLION OVER THE NEXT
DECADE AND CANCELS THE EXPANSION
OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT LAST YEAR.
THE REPUBLICANS' BUDGET CUTS TO
MEDICARE ARE ESPECIALLY
DETRIMENTAL TO CURRENT AND
FUTURE MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.
UNDER THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 54 AND
YOUNGER WILL NOT GET
GOVERNMENT-PAID MEDICARE
BENEFITS LIKE THEIR PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS.
INSTEAD THEY WILL RECEIVE A
VOUCHER-LIKE PAYMENT TO PURCHASE
HEALTH INSURANCE FROM A PRIVATE
INSURANCE COMPANY.
THERE WILL BE NO OVERSIGHT TO
THESE PRIVATE PROGRAMS.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTAIN
THE COST, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
MANDATE WHAT THE BASIC SERVICES
SHOULD BE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT WE KNOW THE
STORIES ABOUT THE H.M.O.'S AND
THE FACT THAT THEY HAD ACCOUNTS
WHO DETERMINED -- ACCOUNTANTS
WHO DETERMINED WHAT CARE COULD
YOU GET.
NOT PHYSICIANS WHO HAD THE
KNOWLEDGE AND THE ABILITY TO
DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEED.
WHEN THE FIRST OF THESE SENIORS
RETIRE IN 2022, THEY WILL
RECEIVE AN AVERAGE OF $8,000 TO
BUY A PRIVATE INSURANCE PLAN,
THAT IS MUCH LESS THAN THE
AMOUNT OF THE SUBSIDY MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS RECEIVE FOR OUR HEALTH
PLANS TODAY.
THE COVERAGE GAP IN THE MEDICARE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM WILL
CONTINUE INDEFINITELY.
UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
THIS SO-CALLED DOUGHNUT HOLE IS
SCHEDULED TO BE PHASED OUT.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WILL ALLOW
SENIORS TO CONTINUE TO PAY
EXORBITANT PRICES FOR THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS WHEN THEY REACH
THE DOUGHNUT HOLE.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET ALSO
GRADUALLY INCREASES THE AGE OF
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICARE FROM 65
TO 67 YEARS OF AGE.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET IS ALSO DETRIMENTAL TO
AMERICANS WHO DEPEND AGAIN ON
MEDICAID, INCLUDING LOW INCOME
CHILDREN, DISABLED AMERICANS AND
SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES.
THE BUDGET CONVERTS MEDICAID
INTO A BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM AND
ALLOWS STATES TO REDUCE
BENEFITS, CUT PAYMENTS TO
DOCTORS, EVEN FREEZE ENROLLMENT.
MEDICAID FUNDING IS SLASHED BY
MORE THAN $700 BILLION OVER THE
NEXT DECADE.
THAT IS OVER 1/3 OF THE
PROGRAM'S FUNDING.
MEANWHILE THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
EXTENDS THE BUSH ERA TAX CUTS,
BEYOND THEIR EXPIRATION IN 2012,
AND CUTS THE TOP INDIVIDUAL TAX
RATE DOWN TO 25% FROM 35%.
ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR TAX
JUSTICE, THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
CUTS TAXES FOR THE RICHEST 1% OF
AMERICANS BY 15% WHILE RAISING
TAXES FOR THE LOWEST INCOME 20%
OF AMERICANS BY 12%.
CARE DOCTORS IS NOT A PROBLEM
THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY
FOR MULTIMILLIONAIRES.
THEY WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO FIND
A DOCTOR WHO WILL TREAT THEM AND
PAY THEM WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR.
BUT MOST AMERICANS -- AMERICA'S
SENIORS NEED WELL-TRAINED
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND
MEDICARE BENEFITS THAT THEY CAN
RELY ON.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE
THE UNDERLYING BILL, OPPOSE THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN TO DISMANTLE
MEDICARE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO DISMANTLE
HEALTH CARE REFORM PIECE BY
PIECE, INCH BY INCH, TODAY IS
AN ATTACK ON TRAINING NEEDED
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.
WE KNOW THEY HAVE A STRATEGY
WHAT SIT TOMORROW?
THAT INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF BILLS
THAT WILL DISMANTLE, AGAIN,
PIECE BY PIECE, MEDICARE
REFORM.
IT'S NOT FAIR, MADAM SPEAKER
AND MEMBERS.
HEALTH CARE REFORM IN WHICH ALL
MERPS ARE COVERED IS SOMETHING
WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE TO
STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
I RISE IN
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
OPPOSITION TO THIS AMENDMENT
AND THE UNDERLYING BILL, H.R.
1216.
THIS IS JUST THE LAST ATTEMPT,
THE LATEST AND NEWEST ATTEMPT
BY THE MAJORITY TO STALL HEALTH
CARE REFORM AND UNDERMINE THE
HEALTH SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BARELY TAKEN OUR OATHS
INIAN WHEN THEY VOTED TO REPEAL
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
NOW TRYING TO ELIMINATE TITLE
10:00 FUNDING THAT CREATES
CRITICAL PRIMARY CARE FOR WOMEN
AN LAST MONTH THEY WENT AFTER
THE FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH CARE
EXCHANGES AND VOTED TO CUT
GRANTS FOR SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH
CENTERS THAT SERVED YOUNG
CHILDREN.
BUT WORST OF ALL IS THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET RESOLUTION
THAT WAS PASSED LAST MONTH.
IT RIPS THE HEART OUT OF
MEDICARE, EVISCERATES,
DISFIGURES, A PROGRAM THAT
WOULD NO LONGER BE RECOGNIZED.
IT'S ONE OF THE MORE RADICAL
PROPOSALS I HAVE SEEN IN 18
YEARS IN CONGRESS.
THEY WANT TO STRIP GUARANTEED
BENEFITS AND BREAK THE AMERICAN
PROMISE THAT SERVED OUR SENIORS
SO WELL FOR NEARLY HALF A
CENTURY.
AND WHAT DO THEY REPLACE IT
WITH?
A VOUCHER.
A VOUCHER THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO
KEEP UP WITH SOARING HEALTH
CARE COSTS, A VOUCHER THAT WILL
GIVE SENIORS NO LEVERAGE IN THE
HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE, A
VOUCHER THAT WILL PUT OLDER
AMERICANS AT THE MERCY OF THE
INSURANCE COMPANY.
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, THE C.B.O.
HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WILL DOUBLE
HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR SENIORS.
SO, IF YOU'RE 54 YEARS OLD
TODAY, YOU'D NEED TO AVE AN
ADDITIONAL $182,000 TO MAKE UP
FOR THE MEDICARE BENEFITS
YOU'LL LOSE UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN.
AND THEY'RE NOT CONTENT TO
DESTROY MEDICARE.
MEDICAID COMES IN FOR BRUTAL
TREATMENT AS WELL.
BY CONVERTING TO IT A BLOCK
GRANT, THEY WOULD BE THROWING
AS MANY AS 44 MILLION AMERICANS
OFF THE INSURANCE ROLLS,
ELIMINATING COVERAGE FOR THE
POOREST PEOPLE, MOST NURSING
HOME RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WHO SAY WE HAVE TO DO
THIS TO BLAPS THE BUDGET, THEY
KNOW THEY'RE WRONG.
I SAY THEY'RE DEAD WRONG.
WE DO NOT NEED TO PUT SENIORS
AND LOW INCOME AMERICANS ON AN
AUSTERITY PROGRAM IN ORDER TO
REIN IN THE DEFICIT.
WE DO NOT NEED TO SHRED THE
SOCIAL SAFETY NET OR SQUEEZE
THE MIDDLE CLASS IN ORDER TO
GET OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
IN FACT, WE CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS
$68 BILLION OVER SEVEN YEARS
AND EXPAND THE MENU OF HEALTH
CARE CHOICES BY INSTITUTING A
PUBLIC OPTION.
IF YOU ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
THEY'D RATHER SEE SOME SHARED
SACRIFICE IN CUTTING SPENDING.
THEY'D RATHER SEE US ELIMINATE
TAX BREAKS FOR C.E.O.'S WHO
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING THEIR
MEDICATION OR EATING THEIR NEXT
MEAL.
MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, I'LL VOTE NO
ON H.R. 1216, IT'S JUST ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF REPUBLICAN NEGLY
JOHNSON AND CALLOUSNESS ON
HEALTH CARE.
THEY CLEARLY PREFER THE BROKEN
SYSTEM THAT LEAVES MILLIONS
UNINSURED, IMPOSING CRIPPLING
COSTS THAT BANKRUPT FAMILIES
AND BANKRUPT SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE MAJORITY DOESN'T WANT TO
SOLVE THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS.
THEY WANT TO EXACERBATE IT.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD AS I RISE TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION TO H.R. 1216.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
URN THE GUISE
OF DEFICIT REDUCTION,
REPUBLICANS ARE ATTEMPTING TO
ATTACK OUR NATION'S VITAL
SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR SENIOR.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WOULD
DENY SENIORS AND THOSE WHO ARE
COMING FORWARD AFTER THOSE THAT
ARE CURRENTLY TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THESE BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE,
LONG-TERM CARE, AND THE SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS THAT THESE
SENIORS HAVE EARNED.
SUNDAY EVENING, I JUST GOT BACK
FROM MY DISTRICT WHERE I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR ANNUAL
SENIOR BRIEFING.
THERE WERE OVER 900 SENIORS
THERE AND THEY WERE CONCERNED.
I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OF MY
SENIORS IN MY DISTRICT AND
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY
AND EVEN SOME OF THEIR PARENTS
WHO ARE IN THEIR 90'S TODAY
WILL BE ABLE TO GET BY ONCE
RYAN CARE, IS WHAT I'M GOING TO
CALL IT, THE ATTACK ON MEDICARE
WHICH WOULD DESTROY SOMETHING
WE ALL NEED.
BY FOLLOWING RYANCARE AND
TURNING MEDICARE INTO A VOUCHER
PROGRAM, REPUBLICANS WOULD
GRADUALLY ELIMINATE THE PEACE
OF MIND THAT MANY OF OUR
SEEPORS HAVE GROWN TO BE ABLE
TO COUNT ON.
WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
OLE DIS OF CALLING SENIORS POOR
AND NOT HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LIVE IN DIGNITY IN THE LAST
THESE FIXED VALUE VOUCHERS,
YEARS.
WHICH ARE BEING SUGGESTED IN
RYANCARE, WOULD NOT ONLY KEEP
UP WITH THE RISING COST OF
HEALTH CARE BUT WOULD COST
SENIORS AN ADDITIONAL $17,000
MORE PER YEAR BY 2020.
IN CALIFORNIA ALONE WHICH IS
WHERE I'M FROM, UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET, SENIORS
WOULD PAY $213 MILLION MORE ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN 2012
ALONE.
THAT'S NEXT YEAR.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WOULD
RETURN OUR COUNTRY TO A TIME
WHEN BEING OLD WAS SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE AFRAID OF,
NOT LOOK FORWARD TO.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WOULD
ALSO TURN MEDICAID INTO A BLOCK
GRANT SYSTEM.
HAVEN'T WE SEEN WHAT THAT'S
DONE WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANTS?
IT WOULDN'T WORK.
UNDER A BLOCK GRANT SYSTEM,
MEDICAID WOULD NO LONGER BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ELDERLY.
BY CONVERTING THE CURRENT
MEDICAID SYSTEM INTO A BLOCK
GRANT INDEX, CONGRESS WOULD
SHIFT THE BURDENS TO RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS AND AGING
POPULATIONS TO THE STATES.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
"THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" TO'
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY STATE
AND I DON'T THINK WE'D BE ABLE
TO HELP THE SENIORS.
THE DEFICIT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
IN FACT, I SUPPORTED MANY BILLS
AN AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
BUT IT SHOULD BE DONE IN A FAIR
WAY.
WE SHOULD NOT BLAPS THE BUDGET
ON THE BACKS OF OUR NEIGH'S
SENIORS.
NOT AFTER WALL STREET AND OUR
CAR MANUFACTURERS GOT A
BAILOUT.
I WILL, AND DEMOCRATS WILL,
CONTINUE TO WORK TO PROTECT,
STRENGTHEN AND SAVE SOCIAL
SECURITY, MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I MOVE TO STRIKE
THE LAST WORD AND RISE IN
BILL.
OPPOSITION TO THE UNDERLYING
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZE.
WE HAVE RETURNED
TO THE HILL AFTER A HARD WEEK
AT HOME IN THEIR DISTRICT
TRYING TO EXPLAIN DISMANTLING
MEDICARE.
THE REASON IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN
IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO
EXPLANATION.
THE PLAN THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE
UNDER CONSIDERATION WOULD
INDEED END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
IT.
IT WOULD END MEDICARE AND IT'S
JUST THAT SIMPLE.
THE PLAN WOULD TURN MEDICARE
INTO A VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT
WOULD LEAVE SENIORS PAYING MORE
AND MORE OUT THAT HAVE THEIR
POCKETS FOR HEALTH CARE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT AT A TOWN
HALL MEETING AT A SENIOR CENTER
MANY ANY -- IN MY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
IT'S ONE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COME
FROM EVERY LEVEL OF THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO ENJOY THEIR
RETIREMENT.
THEY RECEIVE MEDICARE BENEFITS.
I ASKED THEM, WHO IN THIS ROOM
A ROOM OF ABOUT 100 SENIORS, I
ASKED THEM HOW MUCH WOULD YOU
LIKE -- HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS
WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO
SEE HOW MUCH YOU WERE GOING TO
PAY FOR HEALTH CARE?
NONE OF THOSE SENIORS STOOD UP.
THAT'S WHAT THE RYAN PLA THIS
MEDICARE DISMANTLING PLAN WOULD
DO FOR SENIORS.
IT WOULD SAY, WE WANT YOU TO GO
ON YOUR OWN AND GOBET WITH THE
BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES.
WE KNOW THAT CAN HAPPEN FOR
THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER BUT IT
CANNOT HAPPEN FOR SENIORS.
IT WOULD SHIFT THE BURDEN TO
MAKE THE SYSTEM MUCH LESS
INEFFICIENT AND INCREASE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT ARE
PASSED ON TO ALL CONSUMERS.
ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, THE PLAN WOULD
RAISE THE ELIGIBILITY AGE FROM
65 TO 67 AND WHILE IT REPEALS
PROVISIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT THAT ARE ACTUALLY
DESIGNED TO MAKE THE SYSTEM
ETCH MORE EFFICIENT.
THIS JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I THINK THAT SENIORS HAVE
CAUGHT ON.
IN FACT, I THINK ALL AMERICANS
HAVE CAUGHT ON.
AND THE THING ABOUT MEDICARE IS
THAT IT IT SUSPECT JUST ABOUT
OUR SEENORS, MADAM CHAIR.
IT'S ABOUT ABOUT THE CONTRACT
THAT EACH OF US, ONE YEN RATION
MAKES TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
IT'S THE CONTRACT I'VE MADE
WITH MY MOFERE, THAT MY SON
MAKES WITH ME AN IT IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE
TAKEN CARE OF IN OUR OLD AGE
PAUSE WE PAID INTO IT AND PAID
FOR IT.
ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR
ECONOMIC AND POLICY RESEARCH A
54-YEAR-OLD WORKER WOULD NEED
TO SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $182,000
A YEAR TO PAY FOR THE HIGHER
COSTS OF PRIVATE INSURANCE WITH
THE GOVERNMENT ELIMINATION OF
$182,000.
MEDICARE.
LET'S JUST ABSORB THAT FOR ALL
THOSE 5 -YEAR-OLDS.
HOW LONG IS GOING TO TAKE YOU
TO GET TO ABLING 65 OR 67 AND
SAVE $182,000 TO PAY FOR YOUR
HEALTH CARE COSTS?
WELL, WE KNOW THAT WOULD BE AN
IMPOSSIBILITY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN MARYLAND BECAUSE
IT WILL HAPPEN ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY AND IT IS THAT OUR
SENIORS ARE EXNICING THAT THE
G.O.P. PLAN WOULD REQUIRE
SENIORS TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $
608,000 OUT OF THEIR POCKET.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE FACT
THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE
AND PROBABLY PAY MORE THAN
THAT.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR SENIORS ARE
VULNERABLE AND THEY'RE
STRUGGLING AND THEY'VE SEEN A
DEPLETION IN THEIR SAVINGS,
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THREATEN THEM
AND THREATEN THEIR QUALITY OF
LIFE BY ENSURING THAT THEY'LL
HAVE TO PAY THESE OUT OF POCKET
COSTS.
SO, I WOULD ASK US, MADAM CHAIR
TO REALLY EXAMINE WHAT IT IS
THAT WE'RE ASKING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO ABSORB.
AND OUR SENIORS, YOU KNOW, I
WAS UP WITH A GROUP OF SENIORS
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THROUGHOUT
MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND
OUR SENIORS ARE SAYING SO US,
IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT US AND
DON'T COUNT ON US SUPPORTING
THIS PLAN JUST BECAUSE WE
HAPPEN TO BE OVER AGE 55.
WE SUPPORT MEDICARE BECAUSE WE
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SO THIS IS A LINK A BOND
BETWEEN THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE WORKING,
OUR SENIORS AND RETIREES TO
PROTECT MEDICARE AND PROTECT
THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH IT.
AND I WOULD ASK US ON THIS
UNDERLYING BILL, I THINK MY --
SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
SPOKEN TO THIS WE NEED MORE
PRIMARY CARE, ALREADY WE'RE
SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR
SYSTEM, WHERE 26-YEAR-OLDS, UP
TO 26-YEAR-OLDS CAN BE COVERED
ON THEIR PARENT'S HEALTH
INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S DOING?
IT'S BRINGING DOWN THE COSTS,
MAKING SURE WE HAVE MORE
RESOURCES TO ABSORB THE CARE
THAT PEOPLE NEED AS THEY GET
OLDER.
AND SO LET'S NOT STOMACH A
DISMANTLING OF THE MEDICARE
PROTECTIONS THAT WE'VE KNOWN
FOR ALMOST -- FOR 46 YEARS IN
THIS COUNTRY THIS CONTRACT FROM
ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT
GENERATION TO ENSURE THAT OUR
SENIOR WHO WORK SOD HARD ARE
ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR RETIREMENT
WITHOUT SACRIFICING EVERYTHING
THEY HAVE TO PAY THE COST FOR
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WHILE
HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WALK
AWAY WITH RECORD PROFITS AND
CERTAINLY WHILE OIL AND GAS --
WITH THAT, I YIELD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KENTUCKY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I RISE TO SUPPORT
THE FOXX AMENDMENT.
I WAS ALSO BACK HOME LAST WEEK
AND WENT TO A 100TH BIRTHDAY
PARTY FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN
NORTHERN KENTUCKY, THE
LOUISVILLE AREA, THAT WERE
TURNING 100 YEARS OLD.
A LADY THERE WAS 103, BORN IN
TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S PRESIDENCY.
I WENT TO DO THIS BECAUSE I
WANTED TO THANK THEM.
I'M A BIG BELIEVE FOR THE WHAT
THE GREATEST GENERATION HAS
DONE FOR US.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BABY BOOM
YEN RATION, BORN IN 1964, 47
YEARS OLD.
1946 TO 1964, IF YOU WERE BORN
IN 1946, YOU'RE IN MEDICARE
THIS YEAR.
65 YEARS OLE SYSTEM OF ONE OF
THE -- I WANTED TO THANK THEM
AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS MAKING A SUSTAINED AND
SECURE MEDICARE SYSTEM FOR
THEM.
WE ALL KNOW LAST -- END OF LAST
WEEK THAT 2024 IS THE DATE PUT
OUT THAT WE'RE HAVING MEDICARE
-- IT GOES BANKRUPT.
SO WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER IS A
REAL PROPOSAL FOR 10 YEARS TO
ALLOW PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY
ADJUST THAT ARE 54 AND YOUNGER.
THERE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE
GREATEST GENERATION, IF ANYBODY
SAYS DIFFERENT, THEY'RE WRONG,
THERE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE
GREATEST GENERATION AFFECTED.
HALF THE BABY BOOM, HALF THE
BABY BOOM IS COVERED -- IS NOT
AFFECTED BY THE CHANGES THAT WE
HAVE TO MAKE TO MAKE A SECURE
AND BETTER FUTURE.
I'M 47 YEARS OLD THIS MEANS A
LOT TO ME, MY DAUGHTER IS 17.
YOU ASK A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE,
DO WE HAVE A BETTER LIFESTYLE
THAN OUR PARENTS HAD?
THE GREATEST YEN RATION GAVE US
A -- THE GREATEST GENERATION
GAVE US A BETTER LIFESTYLE
BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO.
AND IF YOU ASK SOMEBODY MY AGE,
A BETTER LIFESTYLE?
DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILDREN HAVE
AND IT'S BAD THAT THEY THINK
THAT THEY DON'T.
I DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF A
GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS
THE FACT THAT WE WANT OUR
CHILDREN TO HAVE A BETTER
FUTURE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER IS MY AGE, WE
CAN PAY OFF THE NATIONAL DEBT.
SO THINK ABOUT IT.
I'M 47 YEARS OLD, NOT A $14.3
TRILLION DEBT, YOU ASK A LOT OF
PEOPLE MY AGE, DO YOU THINK OUR
CHILDREN WILL HAVE A BETTER
FUTURE?
THEY SAY NO, WE'RE GOING TO
KEEP PILING ON DEBT AN DEFICITS
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
BUT MADAM CHAIR, ASK ME, NOW,
AS YOU THINK OF MY DAUGHTER AT
47 YEARS OLD, IS LIVING IN A
COUNTRY WITH ZERO NATIONAL
DEBT, DO YOU THINK MY
GRANDCHILDREN AND HER
GRANDCHILDREN WILL HAVE A
BETTER FUTURE?
THEY WILL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVING AND
SECURING MEDICARE FOR THE
GREATEST GENERATION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVING AND
SECURING IT FOR PEOPLE THAT
BECOME OLDER AND MO MA -- MORE
MATURE.
SO ANYBODY SAYS THE GREATEST
GENERATION IS AFFECTED BY THIS
IS JUST NOT SAYING WHAT PASSED
OUT OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
IF ANYBODY'S SAYING THAT SENIORS
ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, THAT'S NOT
PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO.
SAY WE HAVE TO REFORM THE
PROGRAM TO MAKE IT STRONGER AND
BETTER FOR THEM, THAT'S
ACCURATE.
AND MAKING IT STRONGER AND
BETTER FOR THOSE WHO COME
FORWARD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DOING.
THAT'S WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
PEOPLE DESERVE THE FACTS.
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF HEARING
RHETORIC, THEY WANT FACTS AND
THE FACTS ARE, WE'RE SUSTAINING
AND SECURING IT FOR THE GREATEST
GENERATION AND REFORMING IT SO
IT WILL BE THERE AS OUR CHILDREN
MATURE AND IF WE PASS THE BUDGET
AS THE SENATE WOULD PASS THE
BUDGET THAT WE PASSED OUT OF THE
HOUSE, WHEN MY DAUGHTER IS MY
AGE, WE'LL HAVE ZERO NATIONAL
DEBT.
WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FUTURE AND
THEN ASK HER IF SHE THINKS HER
CHILDREN WILL HAVE A BETTER
FUTURE THAN SHE DID AND I
GUARANTEE THAT YOU SHE WILL SAY
THAT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE TO OPPOSE THIS
NONSENSICAL PENDING AMENDMENT,
THE UNDERLYING BILL, ALTHOUGH
THAT ALL.
THE UNDERLYING BILL DOESN'T DO
BUT MOST OF ALL, TO DISAGREE
WITH THE REMARKS OF THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY JUST NOW
AND FROM OTHER REMARKS LIKE THAT
THAT WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
DONE ARE NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE
PEOPLE ON MEDICARE NOW OR THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER THAN 55, 55
AND OLDER.
WHAT IT DOES IN FACT IS SHIFT
MORE AND MORE OF THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD IT SO THAT THE RICHEST
AMERICANS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY
TAXES, WILL HAVE TO PAY --
THEY'LL CUT TAXES SO THE RICHEST
AMERICANS BY EVEN MORE AND IT
WILL PROTECT INSURANCE COMPANY
PROFITS AND THE PROFITS OF
EVERYONE ELSE IN THE HEALTH CARE
FIELD WHO ARE MAKING PROFITS
THAT ARE CAUSING AMERICAN HEALTH
CARE TO BE TWICE AS EXPENSIVE AS
DEVELOPED WORLD.
HEALTH CARE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
AND IT -- THE
ARGUMENTS AND WHAT THE
REPUBLICAN CONGRESS HAS DONE IN
THESE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE MADE
VERY CLEAR HOW CYNICALLY
DISHONEST EVERYTHING REPUBLICANS
SAID ABOUT HEALTH CARE IN THE
LAST TWO YEARS REALLY WAS.
ESPECIALLY ABOUT MEDICARE.
WHEN DEMOCRATS REALLY DID TRY TO
FIND A WAY TO GET CONTROL OF
COSTS WITHOUT AFFECTING THE
QUALITY, THE AVAILABILITY OF
CARE, THE ACCESS TO CARE, THE
QUALITY OF CARE, ALL REPUBLICANS
WOULD SAY, EVEN WHEN IT WAS
SPECIFICALLY AND NARROWLY
TARGETED AT FRAUD, THEY SAID WE
WERE CUTTING MEDICARE.
NOW WE SEE WHAT THEY REALLY
THINK ABOUT MEDICARE.
AND NOW WE SEE HOW REALLY -- HOW
LITTLE THEY REALLY DO UNDERSTAND
HOW IMPORTANT MEDICARE IS TO THE
FINANCIAL SECURITY OF OLDER
AMERICANS, OF AMERICANS IN
RETIREMENT.
NOW, THEY SAY IT WILL NOT AFFECT
YOU IF YOU'RE OVER 55.
IF YOU'RE 55 OR OLDER.
WELL, I JUST TURNED 58, IT'S
NICE TO KNOW THE REPUBLICANS
CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT ME, BY LET
ME TELL YOU, THAT'S NOT THE WAY
IT'S GOING TO WORK.
SO SOMEONE 53, JUST FIVE YEARS
YOUNGER THAN I AM, WELL, WHEN I
TURN 65 I'LL QUALIFY FOR
MEDICARE, PRESUMABLY I'LL GET
MEDICARE.
MY 96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WHO I
VISITED THIS WEEKEND, SHE WILL
GET MEDICARE, I FEEL PRETTY
CONFIDENT SHE'LL GET MEDICARE
FOR THE REST OF THEY ARE LIFE,
BUT WHEN I TURN 65 I'LL GET
MEDICARE, THE GUY WHO IS 53 NOW,
HE'LL BE 60, HE'LL BE PAYING
TAXES FOR MY MEDICARE, HE WON'T
BE GETTING IT, HE'LL NEVER GET
IT.
WHAT HE'LL GET INSTEAD IS A
COUPON, A VOUCHER, HE'LL GET AN
ALLOWANCE TO GO BUY PRIVATE
INSURANCE AND PRIVATE INSURANCE
IS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO PAY FOR
WHAT MEDICARE PAYS FOR.
IT IS GOING TO BE FAR MORE
EXPENSIVE.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT IN JUST 10 YEARS
THOSE FOLKS WILL HAVE HAVE TO
PAY 60% OF THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE
COST IF THIS PLAN GOES THROUGH.
WHAT THEY CALL A PATH TO
CALLED THE PATH TO INSURANCE
PROSPERITY, WHAT SHOULD BE
COMPANY PROFITS.
IN 20 YEARS IT WILL BE 2/3 OF
THEIR HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THEY WILL BE PAYING FOR IT.
THEY'LL ALSO BE PAYING TAXES OR
WORKING AMERICANS, PEOPLE WHO
ARE STILL IN THE WORK FORCE, I
WILL PABBING TAXES SO I GET
MEDICARE AND THEY KNOW THAT'S
THE DEAL THEY'RE GETTING.
THE DEAL THEY'LL BE GET
SOMETHING THAT LITTLE VOUCHER,
THAT PUNEY LITTLE VOUCH THAT ARE
PUTS THEM AT THE MERCY OF
INSURANCE COMPANIES -- VOUCHER
THAT PUTS THEM AT THE MERCY OF
ALL OF REPUBLICAN POLITICS
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
SEEMENTS TO BE BUILT AROUND
RESENTMENT.
I DON'T TO HAVE A NATION THAT
FILLED WITH RESENTMENT BETWEEN
GENERATIONS.
CONTRACT BETWEEN GENERATIONS,
MS. EDWARDS SPOKE ABOUT THE
THAT JUST AS OUR PARENTS TOOK
CARE OF US IN OUR CHILDHOOD, WE
WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR PARENTS
AND THEIR GENERATION WHEN THEY
RETIRE.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEM WITH OUR
SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES, OUR
MEDICARE TAXES, THEY WILL GET
THOSE BENEFITS.
BUT UNDER THE REPUBLICAN PLAN,
THE PATH TO INSURANCE COMPANY
PROFITS, THEY WON'T GET
LITTLE VOUCHER.
MEDICARE, THEY'LL GET THAT
HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO GO ON
BEFORE THAT RESENTMENT BUILDS
UP?
HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO GO ON
BEFORE THE PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE
TAXES FOR IT AND KNOW THEY'LL
NEVER GET ARE GOING TO SAY, NO?
NO MORE OF THIS.
WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE THIS.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHAT WE WANT IS
FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET THE
SAME DEAL.
WE WANT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE 65
AND PEOPLE WHO ARE 96 TO GET THE
SAME DEAL, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE 70
TO GET THE SAME DEAL, THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE 58 TO GET THE SAME DEAL,
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE 50 AND 30 TO
GET THE SAME DEAL.
AND IF YOU'RE WILLING, IF THIS
CONGRESS IS WILLING TO CONTROL
COST, EVEN THOUGH THAT MEANS
LIMITING THE PROFITS OF SOME OF
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING
REALLY RICH FROM OUR
DYSFUNCTIONAL HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, WE CAN DO THAT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND.
I MOVE TO STRIKE
THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
RHODE ISLAND IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
AMENDMENT AND IN DEFENSE OF OUR
NATION'S SENIORS WHO ARE REALLY
UNDER ATTACK AND WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN
BUDGET PROPOSAL PASSED BY THIS
HOUSE AND UP FOR SENATE
CONSIDERATION PULLS THE RUG OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH OUR SENIORS.
IT ENDS MEDICARE BY MAKING HUGE
CUTS IN BENEFITS AND PUTTING
INSURANCE COMPANIES IN CHARGE OF
OUR SENIORS' HEALTH CARE,
LETTING INSURANCE DECIDE WHAT
TREATMENT AND WHAT TESTS OUR
SENIORS WILL RECEIVE.
UNDER THE REPUBLICAN PLAN
MEDICARE WILL END, WILL NOT ONLY
IMPACT OUR SENIORS, BUT IT LIMB
PACT THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF OUR
-- IT WILL IMPACT THE FAMILY
MEMBERS OF OUR SENIORS WHO ARE
WILL NOW HAVE THOSE
RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT WILL REOPEN THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE, MAKING IT MORE EXPENSIVE
FOR OUR SENIORS TO GET THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS, THE PRESCRIPTIONS
THEY NEED TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY.
AND UNDER THEIR PLAN, THEY WILL
SLASH THE SUPPORT FOR SENIORS IN
NURSING HOMES WHILE CONTINUING
TO GIVE SUBSIDIES IN THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BIG OIL
COMPANIES.
AND WHAT ELSE?
MORE THAN 170,000 RHODE
ISLANDERS IN MY HOME STATE RELY
ON MEDICARE AND THEY'LL BE
BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST
PAYING TO GIVE ADDITIONAL TAX
AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE
NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE DETERMINED THAT THIS
BUDGET ACTUALLY ADDS $8 TRILLION
TO THE NATIONAL DEBT OVER THE
NEXT DECADE BECAUSE IT'S CAN --
ITS CURTS IN SPENDING ARE
OUTPACED BY THE GIGANTIC TAX
CUTS FOR THE RICHEST AMERICANS.
OUR SENIORS CANNOT AFFORD THIS
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
IT WOULD DENY THEM HEALTH CARE,
LONG-TERM CARE AND THE BENEFITS
THAT THEY'VE EARNED.
THE REPUBLICANS' CHOICE TO END
MEDICARE BY CUTTING BENEFITS AND
TURNING POWER OVER TO THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR THE
IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE DECISIONS
OF OUR SENIORS WILL RESULT IN
REDUCED COVERAGE AND EXPOSURE TO
GREATER FINANCIAL RISKS FOR OUR
MEDICARE RECIPIENTS.
COSTING EVEN JORS -- SENIORS AN
ESTIMATED $6,000 MORE EACH YEAR
FOR THEIR CARE.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
DETERMINED THAT UNDER THIS
REPUBLICAN BUDGET, SENIORS OUT
--' OUT OF POCKET -- SENIORS'
OUT-OF-POCKET EBLINGS PENCES
COULD ALMOST TRIPLE.
THEY INCLUDED AND I QUOTE, MOST
ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD PAY MORE
FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE.
TO PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT, THE
C.B.O. FOUND THAT IN 2030
SENIORS WILL PAY 68% OF PREMIUMS
AND OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS UNDER
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN COMPARED TO
ONLY 25% UNDER CURRENT LAW.
AND IT FOUND THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN MEANS SENIORS WILL PAY MORE
FOR THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
BECAUSE IT REOPENS THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE, COSTING EACH OF THE FOUR
MILLION SENIORS WHO FALL INTO
THAT COVERAGE GAP UP TO $9,300
AND THE CONSERVATIVE "WALL
BY 2020.
STREET JOURNAL" CONCLUDED THAT
THIS PLAN, AND I QUOTE, WOULD
ESSENTIALLY END MEDICARE WHICH
NOW PAYS FOR 48 MILLION ELDERLY
AND DISABLED AMERICANS AS A
PROGRAM THAT DIRECTLY PAYS THOSE
BILLS.
UNDER THE GUISE OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION, THIS REPUBLICAN PLAN
IS RECKLESSLY ATTACKING VITAL
SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR OUR SENIORS.
WE ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS THE DEFICIT.
THE ISSUE ISN'T WHETHER WE
SHOULD DO IT BUT HOW WE DO IT.
LET'S REPEAL SUBSIDIES TO BIG
OIL, LET'S ELIMINATE FRAUD AND
WASTE, LET'S END THE WARS THAT
ARE COSTING US MORE THAN $2
BILLION A WEEK.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE BALANCING
THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF OUR
NATION'S SENIORS.
OUR FEDERAL BUDGET IS MORE THAN
JUST ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS.
IT'S A STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES
AND OUR PRIORITIES AS A COUNTRY.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET REFLECTS
THE WRONG PRIORITIES.
THEY WOULD RATHER CUT BENEFITS
TO OUR SENIORS THAN CUT
SUBSIDIES TO BILIRAKIS BIG OIL
OR CORPORATIONS THAT SHIP OUR --
SUBSIDIES TO BIG OIL AND
CORPORATIONS THAT SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS.
THIS BREAKS THE PROMISE WE MADE
TO OUR SENIORS TO PROTECT THEM
IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS.
WE MUST DO BETTER FOR OUR
SENIORS.
MEDICARE HAS MET THE HEALTH CARE
NEEDS OF SENIORS WHILE PROVIDING
THEM WITH FINANCIAL STABILITY
FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
ENDING MEDICARE WOULD PULL THE
RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FEET
OF OUR SENIORS DURING THEIR
GOLDEN YEARS.
AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, IF WE
CAN'T PROTECT OUR GREATEST
GENERATION, WHAT'S NEXT?
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
CAROLINA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NORTH
MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NORTH CAROLINA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
MADAM CHAIR, I'VE HEARD MY
COLLEAGUES GIVE VOLUMES OF WORDS
HERE TODAY BUT I'VE SEEN LITTLE
ACTION.
IN THE FOUR YEARS THEY
CONTROLLED THE U.S. HOUSE, THEY
PROPOSED NOTHING IN THE WAY OF
MEANINGFUL ENTITLEMENT REFORM,
NOTHING TO PRESERVE SOCIAL
SECURITY, NOTHING TO PRESERVE
MEDICARE, NOTHING TO IMPROVE
MEDICAID AND ENSURE IT IT'S
THERE.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I
ASK, WHERE IS THE PLAN OF THESE
HOUSE DEMOCRATS SPEAKING TODAY?
WHERE'S THEIR PLAN FOR
ENTITLEMENT REFORM?
I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD.
FANTASTIC.
I WOULD SAY -- OH, I'D BE HAPPY
TO YIELD.
WHERE'S YOUR PLAN ON ENTITLEMENT
REFORM?
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FAVOR
PERMITTING MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE
THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
THE WAY THE V.A. DOES AND SAVE
$25 BILLION A YEAR?
RECLAIMING MY TIME,
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FAVOR THE
MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION
DRUG BENEFIT THAT HAS A LOWER
COST BASIS THAN WHAT YOUR
COLLEAGUES PROPOSED AT THE TIME
OF ENACTMENT?
RECLAIMING MY TIME, I WOULD SAY,
THEY HAVE LOTS OF -- I'M GOING
TO FINISH UP HERE, MY FRIEND.
I WOULD JUST TELL THE CHAIRMAN
THAT WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS
DISCUSSION, LOTS OF QUESTIONS,
BUT LITTLE SUBSTANTIVE ACTION,
NO POLICY PROPOSALS TO MAKE SURE
THAT MEDICARE IS THERE FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION.
MUCH LESS, THE END OF THE
GREATEST GENERATION.
I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO
COME FORWARD WITH A SUBSTANTIVE
PLAN, NOT JUST TAKE UP THE TIME
HERE ON THE U.S. HOUSE FLOOR,
NOT TAKE AWAY TIME FROM THESE
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS THAT WE
HAVE UNDER THIS OPEN RULE HERE
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, I WOULD ASK
MY COLLEAGUES TO DO SOMETHING
REAL AND SUBSTANTIVE RATHER THAN
PUSH US TO A DEBT CRISIS WHICH
THEIR POLICIES AND THEIR
SPENDING ARE PUSHING US TOWARDS
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRPERSON.
MY FRIEND WHO JUST SPOKE ASKED
US WHERE THE PLAN IS TO REDUCE
THE DEBT AND DEFICIT AND IF HE'S
HERE I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO
HIM BUT I WOULD ASK HIM TO
CONSIDER THESE IDEAS.
ONE, MEDICARE PAYS MORE THAN
TWICE AS MUCH FOR A FILL AT THE
VET -- THAN THE VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION DOES BECAUSE WE
HAVE A LAW THAT THE MAJORITY
SUPPORTED THAT SAYS THAT
MEDICARE CAN'T NEGOTIATE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.
I FAVOR REPEALING THAT LAW AND
SAVING AT LEAST $25 BILLION A
YEAR.
I WOULD ASK MY FRIEND IF HE
SUPPORTS THAT?
AND I WOULD YIELD IF HE'D LIKE
TO ANSWER.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN SUPPORT THAT
IDEA?
WHY DIDN'T THE
GENTLEMAN DO IT WHEN HE WAS IN
THE MAJORITY?
I'D BE HAPPY TO YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
RECLAIMING MY
TIME.
WE DID NOT -- TWO REPUBLICAN
SENATORS SUPPORT ON THE OTHER
SIDE WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT OVER
HERE.
SECOND THING, DOES THE
GENTLEMAN SUPPORT STOPPING THE
SPENDING OF $110 BILLION A YEAR
TO OCCUPY IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
AND INSTEAD SPEND THAT MONEY
HERE MOUNTAIN UNITED STATES,
DOES THE GENTLEMAN SUPPORT
THAT?
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO HIM?
I'D REPEAT IT.
WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $110
BILLION A YEAR TO HELP FINANCE
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
I'D RATHER SEE THAT THERE ARE
110 BILLION TO REDUCE OUR
DEFICIT.
WOULD -- THAT $110 BILLION TO
REDUCE OUR DEFICIT.
WOULD THE GENTLEMAN SUPPORT
THAT?
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT BEING IN
LIBYA?
I DO NOT.
I DO NOT SUPPORT BAGHDAD AND
KABUL FOR WHAT WE COULD BE
DOING HERE AT HOME.
THIRD, WE'LL SPEND AT LEAST $63
BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS
TO GIVE TAX BREAKS TO OIL
COMPANIES THAT MADE RECORD
PROFITS, $44 BILLION LAST YEAR
ALONE, AS OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE
PAYING OVER $4 A GALLON AT THE
PUMP.
I SUPPORT REPEALING THOSE
GIVEAWAYS TO THE OIL INDUSTRY
AND PUTTING THAT MONEY TOWARD
THE DEFICIT.
I DON'T SEE THE GENTLEMAN ANY
MORE.
NOT SURE HOW HE STANDS ON IT,
BUT WE SUPPORT THAT.
FOUR, I SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE MORE THAN $1 MILLION A
YEAR MIGHT BE ASKED TO
CONTRIBUTE JUST A LITTLE MORE
IN TAXES TO HELP REDUCE THIS
DEFICIT.
I KNOW THE OTHER SIDE'S GOING
TO SAY, WELL, THIS WILL HURT
THE JOB CREATORS IN AMERICA.
THERE'S AN ECHO IN THIS
CHAMBER.
IN 1993 PRESIDENT CLINTON
PROPOSED A MODEST INCREASE ON
THE HIGHEST EARNING AMERICANS
TO HELP REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
THE FORMER SPEAKER AT THE TIME,
MR. GINGRICH -- HE WASN'T
SPEAKER AT THE TIME -- BECAME
THE SPEAKER -- SAID THIS WOULD
CAUSE THE WORST RECESSION IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
HE WAS WRONG.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO BECAME THE
MAJORITY LEADER, MR. ARMY, SAID
THIS WAS A RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC
COLLAPSE.
HE WAS WRONG.
WHEN WE FOLLOW THE SUPPLY SIDE
TRICKLE DOWN THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH, THE
ECONOMY CREATED ONE MILLION NET
NEW JOBS.
BUT WHEN WE ASKED THE
WEALTHIEST OF AMERICANS JUST A
LITTLE BIT MORE TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT IN THE 1990'S, THE
ECONOMY CREATED 23 MILLION NEW
JOBS.
SO WHEN THEY ASK, WHERE IS THE
PLAN?
HERE'S THE PLAN.
DON'T ABOLISH MEDICARE THE WAY
THEY PLAN TO.
NEGOTIATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PRICES, STOP PAYING THE BILLS
FOR IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, STOP
THE GIVEAWAYS TO OIL COMPANIES
THAT MAKE RECORD PROFITS AND
ASK THE WEALTHIEST IN THIS
COUNTRY PAY JUST A BIT MORE TO
PAY DOWN OUR DEFICIT.
LET'S PUT THAT PLAN ON THE
FLOOR AND REDUCE THE DEFICIT
THAT WAY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEWOMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR.
I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO
THE UNDERLYING VERY RECKLESS
BILL, H.R. 1216.
THE REPUBLICANS -- AND WE HEARD
THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN --
THEY WANT TO DESTROY AND TO
DENY SENIORS LONG-TERM
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE BY
ELIMINATING PROGRAMS THAT ARE
TRAINING THE FUTURE HEALTH WORK
FORCE OF OUR COUNTRY.
THIS LEGISLATION IS REALLY PART
OF AN ONGOING REPUBLICAN ATTACK
ON MEDICARE UNDER THE GUISE OF
DEFICIT REDUCTION AND FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT REALLY IS ABOUT PRIVATIZING
MEDICARE AND, OF COURSE, THAT
MEANS THERE WILL BE SOME
WINNERS AND THERE WILL BE SOME
LOSERS.
THE REPUBLICAN' PLAN TO END
MEDICARE THREATENS THE HEALTHY
AND SECURE RETIREMENT THAT WE
PROMISED AMERICAN SENIORS.
IN FACT, AN END TO MEDICARE AS
AN END TO THE LIFELINE THAT
MILLIONS OF SENIORS RELY ON.
MEDICARE GIVES PEACE OF MIND TO
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO PAY
INTO IT ALL OF THEIR LIVES.
THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GIVE
AGING AMERICANS A VOUCHER, MIND
YOU, THAT WILL NOT COME CLOSE
TO COVERING THE COST OF HEALTH
CARE INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING AND
IMPROVING MEDICARE.
SURE, WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE
MUST BE ADDRESSED WHEREVER WE
FIND IT, INCLUDING THE
PENTAGON.
BUT WE DISAGREE WITH THE
REPUBLICAN AGENDA THAT THE
PROGRAM MUST BE KILLED.
THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO END
THIS PROGRAM WHEN MILLIONS OF
MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET,
AND WHEN WE KNOW THAT MEDICARE
ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES WILL
DOUBLE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS,
REPUBLICANS HAVE THE WRONG
PRIORITIES, FOCUSED ON LETTING
THE RICH GET RICHER ON THE
BACKS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR
NATION.
UNDER THE GUISE OF REFORM,
REPUBLICANS WOULD INCREASE COST
FOR SENIORS AND CUT BENEFITS
WHILE GIVING TAX CUTS TO
MILLIONAIRES, SUBSIDIES TO OIL
COMPANIES AND SENDING
DESPERATELY NEEDED JOBS
OVERSEAS.
IF THE REPUBLICANS GET THEIR
WAY, MILLIONS OF SENIORS WOULD
IMMEDIATELY BEGIN PAYING HIGHER
COSTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
THE IMPACT OF KILLING MEDICARE
WILL BE THE MOST SEVERE ON
VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS, INCLUDING OUR
SENIORS OF COLOR, WHILE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTING ALL
SENIORS WHO RELY ON MEDICARE TO
PROTECT THEIR HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC SECURITY.
AN END TO MEDICARE IS REALLY AN
END TO A LIFELINE THAT MILLIONS
OF SENIORS RELY ON.
IF REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR WAY,
MILLIONAIRES WILL CONTINUE TO
GET BIG BONUSES WHILE MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS FALL DEEPER INTO
POVERTY.
MADAM CHAIR, APPROXIMATELY 43.5
MILLION AMERICANS WERE LIVING
IN POVERTY IN 2009.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT NEARLY
FOUR MILLION OF THOSE ARE
SENIORS?
GIVEN OUR CHALLENGED ECONOMY,
WE CAN'T EXPECT THESE NUMBERS
MEDICARE IS PART OF A PROMISE
TO IMPROVE SINCE 2009.
MADE TO HARDWORKING AMERICANS
TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT
LACK THE SECURITY OF HAVING
HEALTH CARE.
AND SO RATHER THAN STAND
SILENTLY WHILE REPUBLICANS
DESTROY A PROGRAM THAT PROTECTS
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WE ARE
HERE TO SPEAK UP AND STAND UP
FOR OUR MOTHERS AND OUR
FATHERS, OUR GRAND MOTHERS AND
OUR GRAND FATHERS, OUR AUNTS
AND OUR UNCLES AND, YES, OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR CHILDREN
AND TO BE THEIR VOICE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WE ARE HERE TO DECLARE THAT
MEDICARE SHOULD BE PROTECTED
AND IMPROVED TO PROTECT OUR
NATION'S SENIORS AND MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND
WE'RE HERE TO SAY WE WANT TO
SECURE IT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
ENDING MEDICARE REALLY DOES END
THIS PROMISE, AND THE SECURITY
FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TODAY
AND HERE AND IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DEFEND
MEDICARE AND THE SUPPORT IT
GIVES TO OUR SENIORS.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO
HAVE WORKED HARD THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES HAVE THE HEALTH SECURITY
THEY NEED AND THAT THEY DESERVE
IN THEIR LATER YEARS.
THANK YOU, AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I MOVE TO STRIKE THE LAST
WORD.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I HAVE SEEN
SHAMELESS ACTS ON THIS FLOOR
BEFORE AND WE'RE WATCHING
ANOTHER ONE WITH THE LAST FEW
SPEAKERS THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE
TODAY.
MR. SESSIONS -- THE FACTS OF
THE CASE ARE, AND PEOPLE KNOW
THIS, THAT WE PASSED A BUDGET
RESOLUTION WHICH IS A CONSTRUCT
TO ASK THIS HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO CONSIDER A
PLAN SO THAT WE DO NOT BANKRUPT
MEDICARE WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
ANYONE WHO VOTED FOR THE HEALTH
CARE PLAN ON MARCH 21 OR 22 A
YEAR AGO DID.
THE PLAN UNDER WHICH PRESIDENT
OBAMA AND SPEAKER PELOSI AT
THAT TIME SUPPORTED TOOK $500
BILLION OUT OF MEDICARE TO
SUPPORT A PLAN WHICH COULD NOT
BE SUSTAINED EITHER WHICH COST
$2 TRILLION FOR HEALTH CARE.
SO THIS YEAR REPUBLICANS HAVE A
PLAN WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE
SUSTENANCE TO SUSTAIN MEDICARE
WITH A PLAN THAT IS A
MARKET-BASED PLAN.
IT'S NOT A VOUCHER PROGRAM.
NOT ONE PERSON WHO IS PRESENTLY
ON MEDICARE TODAY NOR ANYBODY
THAT IS 55 YEARS OLD OR OLDER
TODAY WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS
PLAN.
IT IS A PLAN THAT SAYS WE
SHOULD CHALLENGE THE CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING
THE ADMINISTRATION, ALSO, TO
COME UP WITH A PLAN ABOUT HOW
WE CAN SUSTAIN MEDICARE AS WE
DO SEE A DOUBLING OVER THE NEXT
15 YEARS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE
EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT
PLAN.
SO THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT FOR
ONCE LET ME SAY THIS -- IT IS
NOT A VOUCHER PROGRAM.
IT DOES NOT IMPACT ANYONE THAT
IS PRESENTLY ON MEDICARE, SO
THE SHAMELESS THINGS WE HEARD
TODAY ABOUT EVERYONE'S
GRANDMOTHER AND EVERYBODY'S
GRANDFATHER AND ALL THESE
PEOPLE THAT WILL BE THROWN OFF
MEDICARE, THEY WILL BE UN
AFFECTED.
HERE'S WHAT THE PLAN CALLS FOR.
IT CALLS FOR THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS TO BEGIN A PROCESS
WITH HEARINGS THAT WOULD ALLOW
MEMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE
ON MEDICARE TO PROBABLY BE
ALLOWED TO HAVE INSTEAD OF A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PLAN OF
MEDICARE TO HAVE A PLAN THAT
LOOKS JUST LIKE WHAT GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE.
A REALISTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM TO CHOOSE AMONG SEVERAL
PLANS, WHETHER THEY WANT A
BASIC PLAN, ALL THE WAY UP TO A
PLAN WHICH THEY COULD FULLY
PARTICIPATE THEM SELF.
TODAY, MEDICARE IS A CLOSED
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PROCESS JUST
LIKE WE HEARD MR. MILLER, WE'RE
GOING TO TREAT EVERYONE THE
SAME WAY, IT DOES NOT WORK
BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE
SAME NEEDS AS EACH OTHER.
WE WILL HAVE A PLAN WHICH IS
MARKET-BASED, WHICH DOES NOT
BANKRUPT THIS COUNTRY NOR THE
SYSTEM, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE
INDIVIDUAL AN OPPORTUNITY TO
COME INTO A PROCESS AND HAVE
THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE JUST LIKE
SOMEBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WERE
IN THAT PROGRAM TO TAKE MONEY
OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO
CHOOSE THEIR OWN DOCTOR IF THEY
CHOSE TO AND TO BE ALLOWED TO
SUPPLEMENT THOSE PAYMENTS.
WE WOULD PROBABLY SET A MARK, A
BAR THAT SAID IF YOU MAKE ABOVE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY,
THAT'S NOT DETERMINED YET, BUT
IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO PAY
FOR YOURSELF YOU SHOULDN'T RELY
UPON THE GOVERNMENT.
ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE SUPPORT THE SYSTEM BECAUSE
IF PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PAY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE,
WE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO
THAT, ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO
THAT.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT HOW DOCTORS
ARE PAID.
DOCTORS TODAY HAVE NOT ONLY
BEEN MISTREATED BY BOTH SIDES
BUT IN PARTICULAR AS WE SEE
DOCTORS NOT BEING COMPENSATED,
THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND IT
MEANS SENIORS ARE BEING DENIED
COVERAGE BECAUSE PHYSICIANS ARE
NOT BEING REIMBURSED PROPERLY.
IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A GREAT
SYSTEM WHERE DOCTORS WOULD WANT
TO SERVE SENIORS, A GREAT AND
BETTER SYSTEM THAT'S
MARKET-BASED WHEREBY THE PERSON
HAS THE ABILITY TO PAY.
IF THEY DO THEY WOULD PAY THEIR
OWN PHYSICIAN AND THEIR OWN WAY
WITH THE MINIMUM SUPPORT FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
BOTTOM LINE IS THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NORTH CAROLINA ASKS A
RELEVANT QUESTION, AND THE
ANSWER THAT CAME BACK WAS WHEN
HE SAID, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN, THE
ANSWER THAT CAME BACK WAS, WHAT
ABOUT THE WAR AND WHAT ABOUT
OIL COMPANIES?
WELL, THE FACTS OF THE CASE
ARE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MEDICARE HERE TODAY.
A SYSTEM THAT IS DRAINING,
DRAINING THIS COUNTRY FROM NOT
ONLY ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE
OUTSTANDING AND EXCELLENT
--
HEALTH CARE BUT ALSO A SYSTEM
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEWOMAN.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED NOT TO
WALK IN THE WELL WHEN OTHER