[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MEDICARE CUTS: WHY PICK ON OUR GRANDPARENTS FIRST?

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this week America celebrates the 30th 
anniversary of Medicare. Thirty years ago, Medicare brought to our 
senior population, for the first time, health security they never 
enjoyed before. They knew that whatever their circumstances, medical 
care would be available if they suffered from sickness or accident.
  All that is threatened now. The majority party's budget does wage war 
on Medicare. It cuts $270 billion from Medicare to finance tax breaks 
for the privileged few. Seniors will lose their choice of physician 
unless they can afford to pay more. Everybody in this place can, 
because they earn $130,000 a year. Their budget will provide seniors 
cut-rate, substandard medical care unless they can afford to pay more. 
Their proposed cuts will deprive seniors of the security Medicare now 
provides, unless they can afford to pay more.
  To curb costs, why not rein in rising insurance company premiums 
costs, along with hospital costs and prescription drug costs? Why pick 
on our grandparents first? Let us not let America backpedal into the 
21st century.


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