[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9047]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                REPUBLICAN POLICY PROPOSALS HARM SENIORS

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2011

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
discuss how the proposed Republican policies will harm our seniors. 
Republicans are attacking our seniors' most vital support systems.
  The Republican budget would replace Medicare with an underfunded 
voucher system that eliminates guaranteed Medicare benefits. Private 
insurance companies, which would be much more expensive than 
traditional Medicare, would be in charge of seniors' health care for 
those currently under the age of 55. It is estimated that seniors' 
health care costs would increase by more than $6,000 a year and costs 
would continue to skyrocket over time.
  Republicans have claimed that their budget does not affect current 
Medicare beneficiaries; however, this claim is false. In fact, the 
Republican proposal would immediately cut benefits and would require 
seniors to pay more out-of-pocket for prescription drugs.
  With respect to Medicaid, the Republican budget would cut almost $800 
billion dollars over the next decade. Currently, Medicaid is the 
primary payer for nursing home care; massive cuts in this area would 
result in staffing shortages and reduced care quality.
  At a time where our seniors are struggling to stay afloat in an 
unstable and unpredictable economy, we should be creating policies that 
will protect them instead of proposing policies that will place them in 
harm's way. Balancing the budget on the backs of seniors is 
reprehensible to say the least. We must fight for our nation's seniors 
and defend them against these reckless attacks on their health, 
economic security, and peace of mind.

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