[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   URGING CONGRESS TO SHOW RESTRAINT

  (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to urge 
restraint on the part of the Congress on both sides of the aisle, both 
Republicans and Democrats, to understand when they begin to dismantle 
the only health care program for the poor that we have in this country, 
that they should take some pause before doing that.
  I think the American public needs to know not what is going on here 
in Washington and the bills and the resolutions, but they need to know 
what is not there.
  The Republicans want to cut Medicaid by $170 billion, and I listened 
this morning and I heard some greedy Governors, particularly Governors 
from Republican States, who want to have all the money dumped in one 
pile so they can use it as they see fit. And I guarantee you it will 
not all be used for the purposes for which it is intended.
  They show little concern about the impact of these proposals on 
children, the elderly, and the severely disabled. They are concerned 
about management and about how they can use this money to make their 
coffers stronger. They like to cut dollars, but they do not like to 
create alternatives.
  I have heard no alternatives to Medicaid since I have been here.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge restraint on the part of the Congress to think 
about the poor and the underserved.


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