[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H6237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Ms. CASTOR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, we've been working diligently to improve 
Medicare for America's seniors. In fact, on June 24, the Democratic-led 
House of Representatives passed by a large bipartisan margin, 355-59, 
critical Medicare legislation. Unfortunately, it's being blocked by the 
White House and Republicans across the Capitol.
  I urge the White House and Republicans in the other body to stop 
siding with private health insurance companies and, instead, join us in 
standing up for families who rely on Medicare.
  Our Medicare bill is critical to the health of our neighbors. It 
helps ensure that seniors have access to high quality health care and 
the doctor of their choice.
  Health care for our military families and retirees is also linked to 
our Medicare bill, and the Military Officers Association is calling on 
the White House and Republicans to end their opposition.
  Our legislation cuts overpayments and wasteful subsidies to private 
managed-care insurance companies and redirects these resources to where 
they belong: the health of our seniors.

                          ____________________