[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         KEEP MEDICARE SOLVENT

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, our seniors depend on Medicare, and its 
solvency is a national priority. That is why President Clinton 
addressed this issue as soon as he took office in 1993.
  The omnibus budget bill of 1993 not only reduced the deficit; it also 
strengthened the Medicare Trust Fund and made it solvent for 3 
additional years. President Clinton and the Democrats in Congress did 
this without one Republican vote. The administration also recognized 
that Medicare could only be solvent if we have comprehensive health 
care reform. These initiatives passed out of committee without one 
Republican vote.

                              {time}  1145

  Now, Mr. Speaker, Republicans are poised to take $300 billion over 7 
years from the Medicare Program. The Republicans plan to use the 
Medicare Program as a bank for their tax cuts. We must not let this 
happen. These Medicare cuts will cost seniors $3,000 over the next 7 
years, using up most of their Social Security cost-of-living 
adjustment.
  Chief of Staff Panetta said it well when he said, ``No amount of 
accounting gimmicks, separate accounts, dual budget reconciliations can 
hide the reality that you,'' the Republicans, ``essentially are calling 
for the largest Medicare cut in history to pay for tax cuts for the 
well-off.''
  We must fight these cuts.
  

                          ____________________