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




                         MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include 
extraneous material.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to take strong exception to 
the right wing attack on Medicare. The drastic and mean spirited cuts 
Republicans propose will devastate the health care system and severely 
jeopardize access to health care for the elderly in my district and 
around the Nation.
  Lets be clear about what is going on here. Republicans want to cut 
Medicare not to save the trust fund but to finance back door deals with 
wealthy doctors, special interest groups and rich corporations.
  The issue of whether we should slash Medicare is simply a question of 
values. Are we going to bankrupt the elderly? Are we going to kick 
seniors out of nursing homes in order to finance a tax break for the 
rich?
  I believe that to do so would be immoral, unfair, and just plain 
cruel.
  Mr. Speaker, here is a letter that a Republican constituent wrote to 
me. She said:

       Cuts in Medicare will be devastating and these cuts are 
     unacceptable. We the people, put the Republicans where they 
     are today and we will be sure to take them out if we are not 
     represented.

  I include the entire letter for the Record.

                                                 October 17, 1995.
     Re Republican Medicare Bill.
       Dear Congressman: I cannot even begin to put into words the 
     seriousness of the repercussions of this proposal.
       The effect of this bill will be devastating to my local 
     hospital and nursing home.
       The projected loss of future revenues for my local facility 
     and nursing home seems incomprehensible to me: $14.2 million 
     over 7 years! In addition, the projected loss of jobs in this 
     area being at 3,500 is not tolerable.
       This program will shift enormous funding to me a property 
     owner in Wyoming County because the hospital is county-owned. 
     The tax burden will increase an estimated 28 percent. This is 
     not acceptable.
       This legislation threatens the survival of my hospital and 
     the future jobs of my neighbors. I understand the Speaker of 
     the House needs to retain his parties support but we, the 
     people, put the Republicans where they are today and will be 
     sure to take them out if we, the voters, are not represented.
                                                   Cynthia Tinker,
     Warsaw, NY.

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