[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12743-12744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                THE ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  (Mr. LOEBSACK asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1

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minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 48th 
anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid.
  I grew up in poverty, and my grandmother often relied on Social 
Security survivor benefits to put food on the table. I know firsthand 
how important initiatives like Medicare and Medicaid are to seniors and 
families in America. No senior should have to make the choice between 
putting food on the table and paying for their medication.
  Our country's retirees have paid into Medicare their entire lives. 
That is why it is so critical that those who have worked hard get their 
earned benefits.
  Medicaid is critical to low-income families and individuals with 
disabilities that depend on the program for their basic health care 
needs, many of whom are struggling just to get by.
  I look forward to continuing to work to strengthen and protect 
Medicare and Medicaid to ensure that the promise of health and economic 
security will be there for generations to come.

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