[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H1650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             WE HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MEDICARE

  (Mr. BURGESS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the opportunity over at the 
Supreme Court to witness the oral arguments on the individual mandate. 
I believe I could tell from the faces of the Justices that there was 
significant skepticism about this provision of the Affordable Care Act. 
You know, if we were smart, that skepticism could open the way for 
thoughtful alternatives by this Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to preserve and protect Medicare. Speaker Pelosi 
last year cut $500 billion from Medicare, and the President has placed 
his bet on a bureaucratic control board, the Independent Payment 
Advisory Board.
  A trustees' report from a year ago suggested that the Medicare trust 
fund will be exhausted in less than a decade. That doesn't seem like a 
viable way forward. We've got a budget resolution up this week to 
preserve and protect Medicare. The Republican action ensures access to 
care in the future. This House has voted to repeal the Independent 
Payment Advisory Board, and maybe the Senate should take up the same 
action.
  We have to reduce the spending that diverts thought and effort from 
patient care and free up resources to focus on these patients. We are 
committed to protecting our seniors and Medicare, lowering the deficit, 
and creating a workable system that allows for good doctors to help 
more patients.

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