[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        MEDICARE AT A CROSSROADS

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, the Medicare system is at a crossroads. 
The Medicare Board of Trustees have said, and I quote from page 3 of 
their report, ``* * * The fund is projected to be exhausted in 2001 * * 
*.'' That leaves this country with two options. We can either take the 
path to protect, preserve, and save Medicare or we can do what the 
President would like to do and walk down the road to no idea land that 
would throw millions of Americans off needed health benefits. Everyone 
agrees that there is a problem but only the Republicans pose a 
solution. Where's your plan Mr. President? Your own trustees agree that 
Medicare will go broke yet you do nothing. Does that mean that you 
would rather stay on the political median than save Medicare from 
bankruptcy? The answer to that question is clear. Our President is once 
again absent without leadership.

                          ____________________