[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNDERSTAND THE DEBATE ON MEDICARE

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the House is expected to consider another 
budget resolution this time around. It would seem to me my Republican 
colleagues would have learned a lesson from the last budget experience. 
At that time the American public said ``no'' to severe cuts in Medicare 
and Medicaid, in education, in the environment.
  Although we fought that battle and staved off those cuts, the 
congressional majority is back here again to cut Medicare. We are 
looking at a $168 billion cut in Medicare. Cuts of this magnitude force 
rural hospitals to close and will limit the ability of senior citizens 
to choose their own doctor.
  What are our priorities? What are our values in this Nation? We now 
have 99 percent of our seniors covered for health care through the 
Medicare system. Why would we want to dismantle Medicare?
  It was the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich] who said not too 
long ago that what he wanted to see with Medicare was to have it wither 
on the vine.
  The money they cut from Medicare does not go into the Medicare trust 
fund. Do not let them kid you with that argument. What they will do is 
one more time pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. The tax 
break package is $180 billion, and the cut in Medicare is $168 billion. 
Understand the debate.

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