[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 66 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E900-E901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN SUPPORT OF MEDICARE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 13, 2011

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for 
Medicare and to once again state my strong opposition to the Republican 
budget plan introduced by Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin. This plan would end 
Medicare as we know it.
  Medicare is a program that Americans pay into their entire working 
lives and expect to benefit from when they retire. Unfortunately, House 
Republicans continue to support a proposal that would strip away the 
guaranteed benefits under Medicare. Their plan calls for Medicare to be 
replaced from a program of guaranteed benefits to one in which seniors 
would be given a voucher to purchase insurance from an insurance 
company.
  As if this were not bad enough, the vouchers this plan proposes to 
give Medicare enrollees would in no way keep up with the rising costs 
of health care. Therefore, enrollees would be saddled with more and 
more out-of-pocket expenses over time.
  The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office Congress's official 
actuary projected that these vouchers could actually double out-of-
pocket costs for the average beneficiary in the short-term and triple 
them in the long-term. This is something that I am adamantly opposed to 
and will fight against it taking place.
  Now, to be clear, these changes would not affect current enrollees 
but it would affect the next generation of retirees including many of 
our children and grandchildren. But the Republican plan would 
immediately strip away all the benefits seniors stand to gain and 
perhaps already are enjoying from the health care law enacted last 
year.
  The health care law is already closing the Medicare Part D coverage 
gap--known as the ``Donut Hole''--providing for free preventive care to 
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and ensuring that America's seniors 
have access to the care they need.
  The health care law also provides free preventive care for Medicare 
enrollees care that

[[Page E901]]

is often critical to helping you and your doctor diagnose and treat 
diseases or ailments as soon as possible. But the repeal of the health 
care law included in the Republican budget plan would change all this 
under the guise of ``deficit reduction.''
  But the reality is that none of the cuts would help pay down the 
deficit OR balance the budget. These cuts would instead pay for tax 
cuts to those who need it the least providing subsidies to Big Oil 
preserving tax loopholes to companies that ship jobs overseas all this 
while they are making record profits. Tax cuts for Big Oil and the 
largest corporations should not be paid for on the backs of America's 
seniors!
  And this kind-of thinking does not reflect the needs or priorities of 
seniors and families in my district. I have heard from scores of 
Sacramentans about how the changes to Medicare included in the health 
care law has helped them. One gentleman in particular comes to mind. 
Gary, who takes 8 different name brand medications, regularly falls 
into the ``Donut Hole.'' But as a result of the health care law, he 
will save close to $1,000 per month which means that Gary will be able 
to continue to take his medication, and make ends meet. And his savings 
will only grow over time. However, people like Gary would lose out on 
this benefit, should the Republican proposal be enacted.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Seniors Task Force, I am working 
with my colleagues to ensure that proposals that would hurt seniors are 
not enacted. I believe that if someone works hard all their life and 
plays by the rules then they deserve high-quality health care and a 
secure retirement. I am committed to making that dream a reality and I 
am confident that as more and more people learn about what this plan 
would do the American people will speak out against it loud and clear.
  I thank Representative Tonko for his leadership on this issue.

                          ____________________