[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we will soon consider a 1997 fiscal year 
budget resolution that slashes Medicare and Medicaid funding. The 
American people have given us a clear mandate. They have overwhelmingly 
told us time and time again to protect our neediest citizens, the 
disabled, the poor, our children and the elderly.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have a different vision. 
Their priorities are jumbled, their budget reflects a flawed economic 
theory and confusion.
  Two weeks ago I vote for a budget that reflected my district's and 
the country's priorities. I chose to vote for a 6-year balanced budget 
that proposed to increase the investments in education, job training, 
infrastructure, and at the same time protecting Medicare, Medicaid and 
not demolish it.
  The recent report issued by the Medicare trustees that forecasts 
Medicare insolvency does not tell us anything new. We know that 
Medicare needs mending. Let us take the opportunity to roll up our 
sleeves and get to work. I sincerely hope that the speaker is sincere 
when he said he wants to work in a bipartisan way with the President to 
save Medicare for our parents and grandparents.

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