[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008.
  I believe that any society can be judged on how they treat the most 
vulnerable--namely seniors, children and the disabled.
  This measure places a 1-year moratorium on Medicaid regulations and 
cuts put forward unilaterally by the administration that could have a 
devastating effect on each of those groups.
  Some of these cuts would slash access to rehabilitation services, 
decrease services for foster care and abused children, limit services 
to the elderly, and persons with developmental disabilities.
  In fact, these cuts could have a disastrous impact in Michigan on the 
21,000 developmentally disabled and 27,000 children with medical 
conditions--the very people who need our help the most.
  With Michigan's struggling economy, the high price of gas and home 
heating, and an overall increase in cost of living, many families need 
access to these services.
  The proposed cuts to the Medicaid program have the potential to cost 
the State of Michigan over 15,000 jobs and the loss of $732 million 
dollars in Federal funding in the first year alone. And it's set to get 
worse over the next 5 years resulting in an estimated $3.9 billion in 
Federal cuts.
  Delaying these draconian cuts for 1 year will give Congress the 
opportunity to work together on these issues so that we can better 
serve those in need across our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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