[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5103-5104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Ms. CASTOR of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concern over 
my Republican colleagues' cheering the impending prospect of a 
government shutdown, as was reported in the press.
  Then, this morning, we wake up to find out that the Republican 
proposal to address the deficit and debt is not to address major tax 
loopholes or tax earmarks, but it's to undermine Medicare and to end 
Medicare as we know it. Now, for decades and decades, we have had this 
wonderful Medicare program that ensured that our older neighbors live 
their retirement in dignity. They can see the doctor. If they have to 
go to the hospital, it is there for them. And a hospice benefit in 
their last days. This is all at risk now because the new Republican 
plan announced this morning will end Medicare as we know it by 
eliminating benefits.
  We're not going to stand for it. We're going to stand on the side of 
our older neighbors to ensure that, yes, they can live their retirement 
years in dignity and financial security.

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