[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25801]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. SHUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, health care reform should empower all 
Americans to choose a health care plan that offers them choice and 
affordability. However, the Democratic plan will only lead to higher 
taxes, cuts in benefits, and government's taking away our seniors' 
health care choices.
  For seniors on fixed incomes, the prospect of being forced to pay 
more for health care could become a frightening reality. The Democrat 
plan would raise Medicare prescription drug premiums by 20 percent over 
the next decade and deny seniors the choice of keeping their current 
coverage. The Democrat plan includes $163 billion in cuts to Medicare 
Advantage. Up to 38,000 seniors in my district would be negatively 
affected by these cuts. Nothing should ever come between seniors and 
their doctors; yet this is exactly what the Democrat bill does.
  The American people and our Nation's seniors deserve better than this 
reckless rush to reform.

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