[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5395]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               THE BUDGET, MEDICARE, AND SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am really here to talk today about 
the budget, Medicare, and social security. We have the opportunity to 
show the American people that we can work together and agree on a 
budget resolution. While it is important that we continue the effort to 
balance the budget, we need to ensure that programs that benefit the 
American people the most are protected and strengthened.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle keep talking about tax 
cuts, and all of us like to give tax cuts, but I do not want to do it 
at the expense of social security, Medicare, or the educational 
opportunities for our children.

                              {time}  1030

  We cannot risk these valuable programs simply to give tax cuts. It is 
critical to have a budget that ensures national projects like the 
expansion of the Port of Houston in my district. The Port of Houston is 
important, not only to our Nation, but also locally because dredging 
the channel ensures safety for many of our residents.
  It is our responsibility to take the necessary steps to have a budget 
that saves and protects Medicare, Social Security, education and 
projects like the Port of Houston.

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