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


                 SUPPORT THE TRUE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, with Harry Truman 
watching, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into a law a program to 
guarantee health insurance for every person over 65.
  Thirty years ago, Medicare was born.
  Thirty years ago, half our senior citizens did not have health 
insurance. Today, because of Medicare, 99 percent of our elderly have 
health insurance.
  The Republicans are threatening the Medicare program. And they are 
doing it to pay for tax breaks promised in their so-called Contract 
With America.
  But make no mistake about it, that is not the Contract With America. 
I have here in my pocket the true contract with America--the Medicare 
Act signed by President Johnson. This is our contract with our parents, 
with our children, with our grandchildren. This is our contract with 
America.
  Medicare is a sacred trust with our seniors and our families. It 
cannot and must not be violated.


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