[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 162 (Thursday, October 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10310-H10311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HEALTH CARE CHOICES FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS

  (Mr. LONGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LONGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am tired of the nonsense we have been 
listening to.
  There are three very simple truths about what the House is going to 
act on today, and, first, as the minority party appears to forget, this 
is a program, Medicare is a program that is paid for by taxes on the 
wages of working people and by seniors through their premiums.
  We owe it to them to see that this money is used wisely and 
effectively, No. 1.
  No. 2, any senior who is currently in the Medicare Program is going 
to be guaranteed the right to stay in the Medicare Program as it is if 
that is what they choose to do. There will be no increase in copayment, 
no increase in deductible, and the premium rate will be maintained at 
the 70 percent paid for by the Government rate, 30 percent paid for by 
seniors.
  Third, we are going to allow those seniors who wish to make choices 
about their health care. What a radical idea, that we would allow 
people to choose the health care program that might be best for them.

[[Page H 10311]]

  Shame on the minority for failing to understand these principles.

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