[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         STATEMENT ON SEQUESTER REPLACEMENT RECONCILIATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID RIVERA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2012

  Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I am going to vote in favor of the 
Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 (SRRA) because I 
firmly believe the government's budget deficit is far too big, bad for 
the economy, and compromises our Nation's future. Additionally, the 
automatic across-the-board sequestration enacted last year is not 
targeted and does not reflect good policy.
  Most proposals to reduce the deficit are painful measures, requiring 
tough choices and trade-offs. On the whole, this legislation is a step 
in the right direction. It sends an important message about our 
seriousness in righting the Federal fiscal ship, and includes 
supportable measures.
  But one provision of the bill in particular is inadvisable. The 
provision that would cut the Federal share of Medicaid in the 
territories approximately two-thirds through Fiscal Year 2019 should 
not be included in any budget legislation.
  The Federal government already underfunds Medicaid in Puerto Rico and 
other territories, as the Republican Governors Association has 
recognized. The territories' Medicaid programs have not provided all 
services provided in the States and do not cover people who would 
otherwise be eligible in the States. If Puerto Rico were treated as a 
State, the Federal share of its Medicaid program would be about 80 
percent. The unwise proposal in SSRA would cut the federal share of 
Puerto Rico's program by 65 percent, with the territory left to cover 
the bulk of the program with local funds. This inequitable treatment 
would not stand in any of the 50 states, and it should not be imposed 
on Puerto Rico.
  Puerto Rico and other territories do not have votes in the Federal 
system. This imposes on us a responsibility to ensure that their needs 
are met.
  While I will be casting a yes vote for the SRRA today, I urge removal 
of this provision unfairly treating Puerto Rico's Federal Medicaid 
Funding. 4 million American Citizens in Puerto Rico deserve equal 
treatment as those living in the States.

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