[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H12355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  BALANCE THE BUDGET IN 7 YEARS WITHOUT CUTTING MEDICARE AND EDUCATION

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Gingrich has said he 
wants to keep open the Social Security and veterans offices temporarily 
so the elderly and veterans will not have to suffer from the shutdown. 
Well, I am glad to hear that. The problem though is that once they 
reopen after this budget impasse, there are not going to be as many 
benefits for them there.
  The balanced budget proposal cuts Medicare $270 billion over the next 
7 years, and, in my own State, the Republican bill cuts Medicare by 
over $16 billion in Texas. Such a dramatic cutback would have a severe 
cutback on the 2 million senior citizens. The veterans better watch out 
because $6.4 billion is cut over the next 7 years, including increasing 
veterans' costs for prescription drugs.
  Let me look at what has happened from 1 day of the Government 
shutdown: 28,000 American seniors and workers have been unable to apply 
for Social Security or disability benefits; 200,000 American seniors 
have tried to call the 1-800-HELP line, oftentimes to report abuses we 
need to have reported, and they have not gotten an answer; 7,600 
veterans have not been able to file for compensation.
  Let us cut this impasse. We want to balance the budget in 7 years, 
too, but not to cut veterans and Social Security.

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