[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE BUDGET THAT HURTS WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2006

  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, women live longer and have more health 
problems associated with aging. They also tend to have less retirement 
income, which affects their ability to deal with rising health and 
energy costs. As a result of these factors, the cuts proposed by this 
budget will affect women especially hard.
  This budget would cut Federal healthcare programs aimed at those who 
need them the most. The burden for covering those who would otherwise 
be uninsured would be pushed to State and local governments who simply 
do not have the resources to provide adequate healthcare coverage.
  The proposed budget cuts Medicaid spending by $17.2 billion over the 
next 5 years, through shifting costs to beneficiaries and to State 
governments as well as cutting payments to healthcare providers.
  This budget will force those who rely on Medicaid and the Children's 
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to accept cuts in benefits or require 
State and local governments to raise taxes to pay for these new 
responsibilities.
  Medicaid is the vehicle for seniors to pay for long-term care and I 
fear that these proposed cuts will force many nursing homes and other 
facilities out of business because of their reliance on Medicaid 
reimbursements.
  Long Island has already seen hospitals close their doors because of 
cuts in Medicaid reimbursements. We cannot afford to have nursing homes 
suffer the same fate.
  The budget also proposes cutting the Medicaid reimbursements for 
generic drugs by $1.3 billion, school-based services by $3.6 billion, 
and funding for the disabled by $1.2 billion.
  I am committed to fighting these cuts. This budget places the burden 
for the Federal Government's fiscal irresponsibility on our children, 
seniors, and the disabled. I will work with my colleagues to restore 
funding to these critical healthcare programs.

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