[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 152 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REJECT PROPOSED BENEFIT CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the Republican budget would turn the 
American Dream into a nightmare for millions of senior citizens--
eliminating Medicare, threatening Social Security benefits, and turning 
Medicaid into a block grant. Those same proposals are now being 
discussed in the Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.
  Seniors are terrified, and they are speaking out against cuts--people 
like Debby from Wilmette, Illinois, a public school teacher whose 
husband was diagnosed with MS and was forced to sell his business at a 
loss. She says, ``My husband only gets $1,800 a month now. There is no 
way we will be able to keep our house and pay our bills. We are 
worried.''
  Or Nirlean from Chicago, who lives on her Social Security check. 
``Medicare helps with my medication. I'm living month to month, and I 
always run out of food before the next month. I really miss getting the 
cost-of-living increase, because my rent takes half my income.''
  Let's listen to Debby and Nirlean and to millions of seniors. Let's 
reject benefit cuts.

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