[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13634-13635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND 
                                MEDICAID

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the respective 
anniversaries of three of the most important programs for American 
seniors: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
  On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social 
Security Act into law. Among other things, this bill created the Social 
Security Program and made a promise to all Americans: that if you work 
hard, contribute, and play by the rules, you can retire and live in 
dignity.
  Before Social Security, more than 50 percent of older Americans in 
this country lived in poverty. Many of these seniors worked hard their 
entire lives but became dependent on others and often had to beg for 
basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and medical care. ``Poverty-
ridden old age'' was a pressing national concern both for seniors and 
younger Americans, who wondered if their years of hard work would 
provide enough for them to survive in their old age.
  Today, less than 9 percent of seniors live in poverty. This 
significant decrease in poverty among seniors is a direct result of 
Social Security and the secure retirement it provides.
  As we approach the program's 80th anniversary, Social Security is the 
most successful program in American history, and its trust fund 
contains sufficient assets to fully fund all promised benefits for 
almost 20 years. Yet, notwithstanding its success, Social Security 
remains deeply controversial among many Republicans and superwealthy 
Americans, who are committed to weakening and ultimately destroying the 
program.
  Just 10 years ago, President George W. Bush tried to privatize Social 
Security, which would have forced deep cuts to guaranteed benefits and 
a massive increase in debt. More recently, several leading Republicans 
have called for delaying the retirement age and cutting benefits. I 
have strongly opposed all these proposals to break our promises to 
seniors, and I will continue to do so.
  On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson expanded our Nation's 
commitment to seniors by signing into law the Social Security 
Amendments of 1965--the legislation that created Medicare. For 50 
years, this program has helped millions of American seniors live 
longer, healthier lives and has also provided them with the peace-of-
mind and economic security that comes with having comprehensive health 
coverage.
  I remember what it was like for seniors who became sick or injured 
before Medicare was enacted. In fact, Medicare was implemented during 
my tenure on the board of trustees for the Southern Nevada Memorial 
Hospital, now the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Prior 
to Medicare, 40 percent of seniors who came into that hospital were 
required to have a signature from a friend or relative who agreed to be 
responsible for their medical bill if they could not pay. If the 
patient could not produce a signature, they were turned away. 
Nationwide, nearly half of all seniors age 65 and older were uninsured, 
and if you were fortunate enough to have health insurance, you paid 
more than 50 percent of the cost out-of-pocket. That is how bad it was 
for seniors. Today, 98 percent of all seniors are insured and can go to 
the hospital or see their doctor when they need care. This program has 
truly been a lifeline for millions of seniors throughout the country.
  And let us not forget about Medicaid, which was also created under 
the Social Security Amendments of 1965. Medicaid provides health care 
and long-term services to 16 million low-income seniors and individuals 
with disabilities. Medicaid pays for services that Medicare does not 
cover. It ensures that low-income seniors and individuals with 
disabilities have access to a wide variety of services. These options 
often allow them to remain in their communities rather than relocating 
to nursing homes.
  I have long worked to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid 
for the millions of seniors and younger Americans who depend on these 
benefits. In 2010, I proudly cast my vote in support of the Affordable 
Care Act, which is strengthening Medicare and working to keep seniors' 
hard-earned savings in their own pockets. Since this law was enacted, 
millions of seniors throughout the country have saved more than $15 
billion dollars on their prescription drug costs and the program's 
solvency has been extended for 13 years. The Affordable Care Act has 
also given States the option of expanding their Medicaid Programs so 
that more low-income Americans can access the care they need.
  Sadly, Republicans have repeatedly attacked and tried to eliminate 
Medicare and Medicaid, just as they have done with Social Security. 
Throughout the last 50 years, they have tried to privatize Medicare, 
convert Medicaid into a block grant program, and cut benefits for both 
programs. Now, they have set their sights on the Affordable Care Act, 
with repeated challenges to the law before the courts, more than 50 
votes to repeal or undermine the law, and Republican Governors turning 
back millions of Federal dollars to expand their Medicaid Programs and 
expand access to health care in their States. Republicans are 
determined to destroy effective health care programs in spite of all 
the good they have done, but my Democratic colleagues and I will 
continue to work to prevent this from happening.
  As President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law 80 
years

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ago, he said, ``Today, a hope of many years' standing is in large part 
fulfilled . . . We have tried to frame a law which will give some 
measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against 
the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.'' Similarly, five 
decades ago President Johnson declared, ``No longer will Americans be 
denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness 
crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over 
a lifetime so that they might enjoy dignity in their later years.'' Let 
us remain mindful of these words and the promise that our country has 
made to seniors as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Social 
Security and the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. I am 
committed--just as President Roosevelt and President Johnson were 
decades ago--to giving Americans the health and economic security they 
need, deserve, and have earned.

                          ____________________