[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            SAVING MEDICARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington [Mr. Metcalf] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 30th anniversary of 
Medicare. Over the past 30 years, this program has provided essential 
health care coverage to many seniors. Yet today Medicare faces imminent 
bankruptcy.
  President Clinton's own Social Security and Medicare boards of 
trustees, which include three appointed Cabinet members, issued their 
annual report this last April. I have a copy right here. In this 
report, they indicated that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be 
able to pay benefits for only about 7 more years. By the year 2002, 
seniors who depend on this program as their primary source of health 
care will lose coverage unless we act now to protect Medicare.
  Let me share the conclusion from this report. This is President 
Clinton's report, his trustees:

       We strongly recommend that the crisis presented by the 
     financial condition of the Medicare trust funds be urgently 
     addressed on a comprehensive basis, including a review of the 
     program's financing methods, benefit provisions and delivery 
     mechanisms.

  I have heard little or nothing from the minority party as to how to 
fix it. They have criticized the Republicans but they have not offered 
any specific methods to fix this problem.
  We have two options: We can either do nothing and allow Medicare to 
face bankruptcy or we can strengthen, simplify and save Medicare.

                              {time}  1530

  We must strengthen this program by making it financially sound and 
safe.
  Mr. Speaker, the current growth of Medicare is unsustainable. Instead 
of continuing to increase spending at 10 or 11 percent each year, we 
must slow the growth to about 7 percent. Even under this plan, spending 
for each beneficiary will increase from $4,800 per year to $6,400 by 
the year 2002.
  We must simplify this program and make it easier for seniors to use. 
We must reduce fraud and abuse in Medicare. We must give seniors the 
right to choose their own health plan. We must go beyond the scare 
tactics. If we take immediate action now, we can save Medicare.
  Mr. Speaker, this is indeed the 30th birthday of Medicare. We on this 
side of the aisle say ``Happy Birthday'' and many more.

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