[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]




                       MEDICARE IS A FAMILY ISSUE

  (Mr. OLVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, Americans celebrate the 30th 
birthday of Medicare and Americans will celebrate the medical security 
that Medicare gives to our senior citizens.
  I am sure there are people listening who just turned 30 who are 
thinking: ``This doesn't affect me? Why should I care?'' I'll tell you 
why you should care.
  When the Republicans cut $270 billion from Medicare and use most of 
that to give tax breaks to the wealthiest handful of Americans, those 
cuts will make Medicare too expensive for many seniors who will have no 
place to turn for help except to their adult children.
  How else will seniors pay a deductible that has doubled, or pay a 
monthly premium that has doubled, or pay a new copayment for home care? 
How else will they pay the specialist not covered by the managed care 
plan they have been forced into?
  Young people cannot ignore the Republican attack on Medicare; 30-
year-olds, seniors, and everyone in between should remember that 
Medicare is not just a seniors issue, it is a family issue.

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