[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORE ON MEDICARE

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Medicare should not become a 
political football because millions of our seniors in America depend so 
heavily on it for their health care.
  In today's edition of the Houston Chronicle that I picked up before I 
left home this morning, it talks about the Republicans laying plans to 
slash billions from the budget. The Republican majority should come up 
with a plan to reform the Medicare system but not cut $250 billion, 
$300 billion, $400 billion out of it.
  I spoke and met with many seniors yesterday in my district, and they 
want the fraud and abuse out of Medicare. But they do not want less 
health care than they have today.
  The Medicare system was made solvent for 3 more years in 1993 without 
one Republican vote. Now the Republican majority is planning to cut it 
in the name of reform. The savings should be used to increase the 
benefits for seniors and increase the reimbursement rates and not just 
to pay for tax cuts. I cannot support billions in Medicare cuts when 
they would not help the system become more solvent in 7 years.
  Medicare should be reformed but not to save $380 billion and help pay 
for tax cuts for the rich U.S. citizens.

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