[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REPUBLICAN MEDICARE CUTS HURT RURAL AMERICA

  (Mr. HILLIARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Medicare plan places a 
major burden on rural America which will literally squeeze the 
lifeblood out of America's rural hospital system.
  Almost 10 million American citizens who live in rural America depend 
on the Medicare benefits they receive to stay healthy. Under the 
Republican Medicare plan, significant cuts in Medicare revenue will 
cause a great number of rural hospitals to either close or increase 
their cost.
  It is wrong to make rural America pay such a high price. My 
Republican colleagues say all they are doing is shifting the cost to 
the private sector. What they really mean is that they are shifting the 
cost back to the taxpayers who have already paid that cost through 
monthly deductions.
  Rural America deserves good health care and good hospitals. That is 
why the Republican plan must be defeated.

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