[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            SUPPORT MEDICARE

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, Medicare is in trouble. It is in trouble all 
right because the Republicans are in control. The fact is that they do 
not share the commonsense values in terms of maintaining the commitment 
to quality health care for older Americans.
  Medicare is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary this week. The 
celebration should be a positive one, but it has a very sour note 
because the fact of the matter is that the commitment is not there 
today in 1995 with the Republicans and with the majority in this 
Congress to support Medicare.
  They did not support it when it was initiated. They do not support it 
today. They are busy looking for excuses to take apart Medicare. The 
reason for that, of course, is to provide a big tax cut for their 
wealthy friends.
  The fact of the matter is we should be supporting Medicare, not 
tearing it apart.
  Mr. Speaker, it is ironic that as we celebrate the 30th anniversary 
of the Medicare, drastic cutbacks are being planned for the program.
  Before Medicare was enacted 46 percent of seniors had health 
insurance. Today, because of Medicare, 97 percent of seniors have 
health insurance. And today, we face a difficult fight in order to 
preserve a promise that means everything to the security of all 
Americans.
  Republicans are proposing to save the program by cutting $270 
billion. Seniors will have to pay an additional $3,400 over the next 7 
years in health care costs. Some life saver this new GOP majority. The 
GOP in effect destroys the Medicare Program to save it. These added 
costs will be a tremendous burden to seniors trying to make it on a 
fixed income.
  Ironically, these additional costs would not even go to the portion 
of Medicare which has been projected to become insolvent in 7 years. 
The reality is that these cuts are meant to pay for $245 billion in tax 
breaks for the most wealthy Americans.
  Instead of sacrificing the health of the seniors of this country to 
provide a bonus to the wealthiest in America--many of whom don't seek 
such tax breaks--it is crucial for older Americans and for all 
Americans that we remain focused on ensuring that Medicare has a bright 
future and is around for the celebration of its 50th anniversary.


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