[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 173 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H7122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WE WILL NOT END MEDICARE

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, this is Trudy Willis. Trudy and her 
husband, William, are lifelong residents of Middletown in my district 
in Rhode Island. They have three children and four wonderful 
grandchildren.
  Like millions of Americans, Trudy relies on Medicare to pay for her 
healthcare needs. For Trudy, Medicare isn't an entitlement; it is a 
benefit that she and millions of Americans have earned and is a promise 
our government made.
  That is why I am disappointed that President-elect Donald Trump has 
announced he will appoint a Secretary of Health and Human Services who 
wants to end Medicare as we know it.
  Let me be very clear. President-elect Trump does not have a mandate 
to end the guarantee of Medicare. He lost the popular vote by about 2.5 
million votes. We are not going to let him kill one of the most 
effective tools that seniors have to live their retirement years with 
dignity.
  If Republicans bring up legislation to end Medicare, we will stop 
this legislation dead in its tracks. We did it a decade ago when 
President George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security, and we 
will do it again. And by doing so, we will maintain the promise we have 
made to Trudy and millions of seniors across our great country.

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