[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        WE MUST LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS ON THE MEDICARE ISSUE

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE. Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether anyone reads their 
mail. I take time to do it, and I think it is important as we debate 
this matter, since we are only having about half a second of hearings 
on Medicare, to really listen to the constituents.
  I can tell you I am getting a lot of mail. From Sister Jane Abell of 
the Dominican Sisters:

       I am opposed to the proposed Medicare and Medicaid cuts, 
     especially when the Congress wants to give the Pentagon $7 
     billion more than they requested. In my view it is unjust to 
     make the most vulnerable people in our society bear the brunt 
     of needed cuts. I hope this issue will be more fully debated 
     and more humane compromises reached.

  Yes, Sister, I am going to be working on that and so are the 
Democrats.
  Two senior citizens say:

       My wife and I have had total of 14 operations. We spend 
     $650 per 3 months for Medicare Plus insurance. About one-
     third of our retirement goes for medical. We do not need 
     cuts, we need to clean up what we have and cut the waste.

  That is what we are saying to the Republicans: Cut the waste and the 
fraud and abuse, do not take $270 billion out of Medicare just to give 
tax increases to those who well can afford it. Let me tell you 
something. If you listen to our hospitals, Texas Children's, our local 
community hospitals, they are saying, ``Do not cut Medicare and 
Medicaid, do not cut services.'' Let us be rational, let us be real. 
Let us do something right for Medicare and for our senior citizens.

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