[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 115 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              46TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF MEDICARE

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today, Congressman Ed Towns joined millions 
of grateful recipients in celebrating the 46th anniversary of the 
enactment of Medicare, signed into law on July 30, 1965 by President 
Lyndon Johnson. Today, Medicare provides comprehensive health care 
coverage to 47 million Americans, including 39 million seniors and 
eight million people with disabilities under the age of 65 years old. 
Many consider Medicare one of the crowning achievements of the 
Democratic Party.
  ``On the 46th anniversary of Medicare it is important to recognize 
the profound impact it has had on American families. Slightly more than 
half of Americans over the age of 65 years had health coverage in 1964. 
Today coverage is virtually universal,'' stated Towns. ``Because of 
Medicare, millions of Americans enjoy guaranteed benefits and 
affordable premiums for health care at a time in their lives when they 
need it most.''
  Medicare is arguably the best anti-poverty program to ever come out 
of Congress. Nearly 30 percent of seniors lived below the poverty line 
in 1964. Since Medicare was signed into law that number has dropped to 
7.5 percent. Recent studies have shown, the average Medicare 
beneficiary saves hundreds of dollars per year in premiums because of 
Medicare. Most Americans believe Medicare must be preserved, regardless 
of age.
  ``Support for Medicare is nearly universal among Americans across the 
political spectrum, yet we have heard recently proposals that would end 
the program as we know it,'' Towns stated. Some of my colleagues passed 
a budget that would replace Medicare with a voucher system where 
seniors would be forced to spend $6,000 on average to purchase private 
insurance. I have made a commitment to vigorously fight any policies 
that would change Medicare. Medicare is a program that has worked well 
for millions of Americans and their families and I will do all I can to 
preserve it.''

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