[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H7919-H7920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     IMPENDING MEDICARE BANKRUPTCY

  (Mr. METCALF asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, as a senior citizen, I stand today to 
express my deep concern over the impending bankruptcy of Medicare. I 
feel very privileged to hold a Medicare card, 

[[Page H 7920]]
which provides health coverage for seniors, but it will have little 
value if the system goes bankrupt.
  According to President Clinton's Medicare board of trustees report, 
which I hold here, Medicare will be bankrupt in 7 years. Seniors simply 
cannot afford to lose their primary source of health care. We can 
either proceed on our current path of bankruptcy or strengthen, 
simplify and save Medicare.
  I say we choose to save this vital program. To achieve this goal, we 
must slow the growth of Medicare. It is now growing at 10 to 11 percent 
per year annually. If we can slow the growth to between 5 and 7 
percent, we can save Medicare from bankruptcy.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not fall for the scare tactics. We must act 
carefully and thoughtfully to protect Medicare, but we must take action 
now.

                          ____________________