[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Owens] is recognized during 
morning business for 2 minutes.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate the 30th anniversary 
of Medicare and Medicaid. I emphasize Medicaid because in the ongoing 
debate about the cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid gets left out.
  Medicaid is very important. I want to remind everybody that 30 years 
ago, Democrats created Medicare and Medicaid. Lyndon Johnson, as part 
of the Great Society program, created Medicare and Medicaid. Democrats 
created Medicare and Medicaid, just as Democrats earlier created Social 
Security. Franklin Roosevelt was a Democrat. Democrats created Social 
Security.
  Today we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Medicare and 
Medicaid. These two forms of health insurance are the ones which serve 
those people most likely to need medical care. Yet they are the primary 
targets of the Republican scorched-earth Grim Reaper budget cutting. 
While many of my Republican colleagues will rush to the floor next week 
to defend the continued funding of the B-2 Stealth bomber, they 
meanwhile are launching a stealth attack against Medicare and Medicaid. 
Republicans propose to limit the growth of these programs at a rate 
which is actually one-half of the rate of growth for the private 
insurance industry.
  Because two-thirds of the money in Medicaid goes to the services for 
the elderly and individuals with disabilities, the Medicaid cuts will 
drastically reduce access to long-term care for those who need it most 
but are least able to afford it. If you do not believe it, look at my 
home of New York City, where the nightmare has already begun. A Coney 
Island woman has had her 12 hours of daily attendant home care, which 
is much cheaper than nursing home care. Her 12 hours have been cut back 
to 4 hours. To make up for the 8-hour difference, they gave her an 
expensive beeper. She is so sick she cannot even open her mail, let 
alone use a beeper.
  The cuts in Medicare are equally astounding. They will result in low 
income seniors paying more than double their current monthly premiums 
by the year 2000. Let us retain the programs created by Democrats. Let 
us fight to retain Medicaid and Medicare.

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