[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 5613, the 
``Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008,'' a bill that I 
proudly cosponsored. The bill would place a 1-year moratorium on 
proposed Medicaid regulations by the Bush administration intended to 
save money.
  Unfortunately, these cuts would take Federal funds from States at a 
time that many are struggling to meet obligations within Medicaid and 
other programmatic areas. By limiting access to rehabilitation and 
targeted case management services, the administration cynically attacks 
the poorest and weakest members of our society. Eliminating the 
reimbursement for transportation services for certain special needs 
students would deny them the basic right to an education. The 
regulations halt important payments to hospitals at a time that many 
across the Nation and within my home State of Hawaii are actually 
losing money.
  Placing the 1-year moratorium would help us better asses the full 
impact of these disastrous cuts, and come up with a plan that controls 
the growing costs of Medicaid without harming quality, as these 
regulations seem to do. The extent of the unpopularity of these cuts is 
clearly shown by the expedited move by the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce to report the bill unanimously to the House floor, in 
contravention of the President's veto threat.
  Medicaid provides medical coverage for the poorest and neediest of 
our country. It is the insurer of last resort for many who have either 
lost jobs or are barely subsisting. To take away these funds at this 
time is cruel and undermines the intent of the very program. I urge my 
colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

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