[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STRENGTHENING RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES INTO THE 
                              21ST CENTURY

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, the Republicans have failed to make a 
commitment to use any of the Federal surplus to shore up the Medicare 
Trust Fund.
  Medicare, as we know, is projected to become insolvent in 2008.
  Democrats call for strengthening and improving Medicare by locking in 
15 percent of the projected budget surplus over the next 15 years in 
the Medicare trust fund. Democrats would add at least a decade to the 
life of the Medicare Trust Fund while we work to enact long-term 
reforms to extend the life of the plan. Republicans, on the other hand, 
are pursuing broad-based tax cuts instead of saving Medicare, and they 
want short-term giveaways instead of long-term investments in the 
future.
  The Democrats have the only plan that extends the life span of both 
Social Security and Medicare and strengthens retirement security for 
middle class families well into the 21st century.

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