[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MEDICARE AND OLDER WOMEN

  (Ms. BROWN of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Medicare is a social contract 
between the Federal Government and the American people. Nearly 20 
million older women, many of them in Florida, have come to rely on 
quality health care under this program.
  However, the sad fact is that women age 65 and over already spend an 
average of $2,827 for acute health care alone--33 percent of the median 
annual income of older women.
  We must support and strengthen Medicare so that it can do more--not 
less--especially toward paying for prescription drugs and long-term 
care.
  Until there is comprehensive health care reform, the Medicare Program 
must be protected from cuts that will jeopardize older women.


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