[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 29, 1996

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate May as Older 
Americans Month. This month is a special time to acknowledge the 
valuable contributions made by the senior citizens of this Nation, and 
to recognize their special needs. It is also a time to bring age-
related issues to the forefront of America's attention. The population 
of this country is growing older at an unprecedented rate. By the year 
2050, one in five Americans will be over 65 years of age. Older 
Americans Month gives us an opportunity to think about how we must plan 
to meet the needs of the rapidly growing number of our Nation's senior 
citizens.
  At the forefront of the issues concerning older Americans is the 
current debate over the so-called reform of Medicare. Medicare 
currently provides over 90 percent of Americans over the age of 65 with 
quality health insurance benefits. There is no private insurance plan 
in the country that offers the wide range of benefits and affordable 
care that the Federal Medicare Program provides. Yet in their proposed 
budget plan, Republicans still want to cut $167 billion in Medicare and 
$72 billion in Medicaid. These cuts are unprecedented, and would have a 
devastating impact on today's older Americans, as well as destroying 
the options of future retiring citizens. Seniors would be forced into 
private managed care programs which are proven to be more restrictive 
and make money by denying care. While essential Federal health care 
benefits will be sacrificed, these cuts are planned to provide tax 
breaks for the wealthy.
  The Republican proposal would abandon the needs of older Americans 
rather than meet them. This month, and in the months to come, let us 
recognize the senior citizens of this country, not by cutting their 
benefits and threatening their future, but by giving them hope in 
maintaining their health and security.

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