[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  AARP SHOULD OPPOSE CLINTON-GEPHARDT

  (Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask a simple 
question. Why is the American Association of Retired Persons not 
representing the interests of its membership? As I stated yesterday, 
the Clinton-Gephardt plan contains $480 billion in Medicare cuts over 
10 years. It is ludicrous to believe that cuts of this magnitude will 
not impact on the quality and availability of health care for our 
senior citizens.
  Yet, the AARP remains silent. Yesterday, I received a letter from the 
AARP urging me to oppose the Rowland-Bilirakis bill--a bill that 
basically leaves Medicare alone. I received another letter from 46 
organizations urging me to oppose the Medicare cuts in Clinton-Gephardt 
because of their impact on the quality of care to senior citizens. The 
AARP did not sign that letter. Every action they have taken indicates 
their support for the Clinton-Gephardt bill. That certainly is not the 
message I hear from my constituents. The senior citizens in my district 
want their health care left alone. They want reform--but reform does 
not mean accepting a lower standard of care. Rather than hopping on the 
partisan bus, the AARP should forcefully oppose the Clinton-Gephardt 
plan, before its membership gets taken for a ride.

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