[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MEDICARE TURNS 46

  (Ms. BASS of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. BASS of California. In July, Medicare will be 46 years old. This 
is an opportunity for all of us to take a look at history.
  In 1965, 44 percent of Americans over the age of 65 had no health 
insurance. Many seniors were pushed into poverty by medical costs. In 
1965, when Medicare was first passed, out of 200 Republican Members of 
Congress, less than half voted for it. Future Presidents Bush and 
Reagan called Medicare socialized medicine. So it should be no surprise 
that Republicans are still trying to end Medicare. Today, it's called 
saving Medicare--we should end it in order to save it.
  Seventy percent of the public does not support the Republican plan to 
end Medicare. And so it is a sad fact that a month before the 46th 
anniversary of Medicare, Republican Members of the House are not 
celebrating the Nation's commitment to ensure that our seniors have 
health care but are instead trying to end Medicare before the 46th 
anniversary.

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