[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA IN 1965: MEDICARE

  (Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, we made a contract 
with the American people, particularly our elderly. We said, if you 
work hard and pay your Medicare taxes, you will have a guaranteed 
insurance program for your medical care that will free you from the 
threat of financial disaster in your retirement years.
  The fact that one of the first things the Republicans have done since 
they took over Congress in January is to launch an assault on the 
Medicare Program by voting for $270 billion in Medicare cuts to pay for 
tax cuts for the wealthy should come as no surprise. The Republicans 
never wanted Medicare, they never liked it.
  Suddenly, 30 years after they tried to block the program, they have 
come up with a plan for Medicare; a plan that will limit choice of 
doctors and hospitals, will double premiums, and will mean higher 
deductibles.
  In just 6 months, House Republicans have passed, adopted, proposed, 
and drafted significant changes to the Medicare Program. Changes that 
will effectively take away the security that the Medicare Program 
represents to our seniors and that a single fact best summarizes: 
Before Medicare, 1 in 3 elderly Americans lived in poverty. Thirty 
years later, it is close to 1 in 10.
  Can our elderly afford $1,650 more for premiums to cover their doctor 
bills? Can the elderly really afford $1,700 more for the same or less 
health care in 1 year alone? Will the proposed vouchers cover them 
against sudden premium increases if they get sick? Is it fair to make 
older Americans give up their doctors and be forced into managed care? 
As President Clinton stated yesterday, the answer to every single one 
of these questions is no. No.
  While House Republicans believe they have devised a contract to meet 
the political whims of the day, Democrats made a commitment with 
Americans in 1965 when Medicare was enacted. Let me assure you that 
President Clinton and the Democrats intend to keep that commitment. Our 
seniors deserve no less.

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