[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 161 (Wednesday, October 18, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AMERICA'S VOICE MUST BE HEARD ON MEDICARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, the voice of the American people must be 
heard. Their cries and pleas cannot be ignored by those of us in 
Congress. We must heed their call.
  I received petitions from my congressional district--hundreds and 
hundreds of missives from my constituents on the issue of Medicare. 
Here are their voices--listen to all of them--``Without Medicare, I 
won't have anything'' said one elderly woman. ``Do not cut Medicare * * 
* it is all that I have'' wrote another senior citizen.
  Did the Congress, created by the Founding Fathers to be a 
deliberative body as it creates legislation, deliberate this issue with 
all due respect. Indeed, I say not. The majority insured that this 
governing body devoted all of a single day to this issue--integral to 
the health and welfare of our Nation.
  The 1-day hearing conducted by the majority was to discuss their 
proposal to cut the Medicare Program by $270 billion.
  That cut is roughly three times higher than any previous plan. My 
colleagues, before America or this Congress buys into the proposal to 
cut Medicare, there are many questions that should be asked and that 
must be answered.
  We must ask, how they expect poor seniors, those on fixed income, to 
pay for the increases they must bear?
  Will Medicare beneficiaries be able to choose their own doctors? True 
freedom and choice for seniors does not exist under the Medicare 
Preservation Act.
  Where will the $90 billion in unspecified savings come from?
  How will hospital closings be prevented, especially in rural 
communities?
  Why is it that none of the funds from the increase Medicare premiums 
will be contributed to the Medicare trust fund? Where is it going--I 
know the answer and so should the American people--to pay for 
your imprudent tax cut.

  Why is it necessary to insist on a tax break for the wealthy, while 
cutting Medicare for those least able to absorb those cuts--the 
elderly, the sick, and the disabled?
  These and others are important questions, my colleagues.
  They deserve frank answers.
  The majority should not rush this legislation to the floor as part of 
their speeding train. We need to have more bipartisan support to 
protect Medicare as well as Medicaid.
  We cannot ignore the impact of this $270 billion cut upon the heart 
and soul of our Nation--rural areas.
  Citizens of rural America will certainly be jolted by these 
unnecessary cuts, since their incomes are 33 percent, yes one third, 
lower than their urban counterparts.
  One third less money for everything, including health care.
  Did you also know that our elderly citizens, they are 60 percent more 
likely to live in poverty if they live in rural areas--60 percent.
  Through the Medicare Preservation Act, Medicare funds for rural 
Americans will be cut by at least $58 billion dollars.
  That is $58 billion less for our rural health care facilities and 
providers. If this atrocity comes to pass, we are certain to lose more 
rural hospitals than we already have. I have been there, have you? I 
served as the chair of the Warren County Board of Commissioners, my 
home county, when we had to close our county hospital. Citizens of 
Warren County now have to drive outside the county to seek hospital 
care.
  Twenty-five percent of rural hospitals already operate at a loss, and 
that is because Medicare and Medicaid alone accounts for almost 60 
percent of the average hospital's net patient revenue. Can you imagine 
the havoc that these cuts will wreak upon rural areas. More hospitals 
are sure to go under, need there be more counties like Warren?
  I cannot in good conscience believe that the bulk of the American 
people support the majority's plan to cut Medicare and Medicaid.
  The $270 billion cut translates into at least $45 billion dollars 
less for the health care for impoverished, disabled or elderly 
Americans in rural areas. For Pitt County Memorial Hospital, one of the 
finest university medical schools in rural areas, this cut translates 
into $621 million dollar loss from 1996 to 2002--$621 dollars less of 
needed medical care. For Nash General Hospital, $234 billion dollars 
less in the same time period. For the Craven Regional Medical Center, 
$211 billion less and I could go on and on and on. I think you get my 
point. And I know that the senior citizens of my district as well as 
the nation hear me. Mr. Speaker why can't we hear the pain of these 
proposed cuts. I will vote against this mean-spirited legislation.

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