[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9303]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, America's seniors have given a lifetime of 
service to our Nation. It is our responsibility to demonstrate the same 
commitment to them by providing a safety net like Medicare and 
Medicaid.
  Sadly, the Republican budget will have a devastating impact on our 
seniors, forcing many of them to sell their homes and rely on their 
children just to get by because they can't afford health coverage.
  In my district alone, the Republican budget plan would throw out 
3,200 Medicare beneficiaries into the prescribed donut hole, eliminate 
preventive care benefits for 56,000 seniors, deny 630,000 individuals 
aged 54 and younger guaranteed Medicare coverage, jeopardize nursing 
home care for 1,100 seniors whose expenses are paid by Medicare.
  Yes, we must lower the deficit with intelligent spending cuts, but it 
is wrong to balance the budget by cutting vital service to American 
seniors.
  Let's preserve Medicare and Medicaid. Let's work together, 
Republicans and Democrats, and find a solution.

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