[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION SHORTCHANGING MEDICARE

  (Mr. WICKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, the message is beginning to get through that 
the Clinton-Gore administration is shortchanging Medicare. Ill-advised 
regulations are threatening the quality of health care for our Nation's 
retired citizens by cutting Medicare $20 billion below the level set by 
Congress in the Balanced Budget Act.
  In a letter this month to HHS Secretary Shalala, 20 Democratic 
Senators joined 21 Republican Senators in urging this administration to 
reverse its decision, warning that harm could come to elderly patients. 
This bipartisan letter warns that if regulations are not revised, we 
may see closings of facilities, layoffs of dedicated caregivers, 
reductions in access to skilled nursing services and erosion of quality 
of care.
  I say to our President, your cuts in Medicare are unacceptable and 
they are not in compliance with the Balanced Budget Act. It is time for 
this administration to provide the resources our senior citizens 
require.

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