[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9928]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                MEDICARE

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, next week marks the 45th anniversary of 
implementing Medicare. On this occasion, it is right that Congress work 
together to protect and strengthen Medicare for our future generations. 
Sadly, instead of preserving Medicare, my Republican colleagues have 
approved a plan to destroy it.
  The Republican budget privatizes Medicare programs, turning control 
over to the insurance industry; ends guaranteed Medicare coverage for 
seniors, replacing it with a voucher system; doubles out-of-pocket 
medical costs for seniors.
  I ask my colleagues, where are your priorities? We should be creating 
jobs and helping middle class families. We should not be dismantling 
safety net programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
  Let's stop the politics. Let's work together. Let's work on a plan to 
protect our seniors and be responsible to lower the deficit.

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