[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 207 (Friday, December 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2449-E2450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    STOP THE BUDGET IMPASSE: PROTECT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID--REOPEN 
                               GOVERNMENT

                                 ______


                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 22, 1995

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of Christmas and the holiday 
season, I rise in strong opposition to the Republicans' drastic cuts in 
health care services for the most vulnerable in our society, and to 
their politically contrived forced shutdown of the Federal Government. 
Under the Republicans' budget, there would no longer be a holiday 
season for the vulnerable.
  While the Republicans are busy repealing Medicaid, have they stopped 
to comprehend the fact that 90 percent of children with AIDS receive 
the critical health care services they need through Medicaid. In 
addition, health care coverage will be denied to nearly 4 million 
children, and over 300,000 seniors could be denied nursing home care.
  Mr. Speaker, who would have thought that we would have ever reached 
the point where the Republicans would feel comfortable in holding the 
American people and the country hostage, because the President will not 
agree 

[[Page E2450]]
with their extremist budget. And then, on top of that, to vote 
themselves a Christmas recess when they should have passed a clean 
continuing resolution--this is the ultimate of irresponsibility.
  Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of Christmas and the holiday season, I 
strongly urge my Republican colleagues to put an end to their budget 
impasse, protect Medicare and Medicaid, reopen the Federal Government, 
and begin sensible budget negotiations.

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