Senior Safety Net

Floor Speech

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, after a lifetime of service to their families and our Nation, America's seniors deserve the security of a basic safety net like Medicare and Social Security. Sadly, the Republican budget that the House approved in April puts fundamental programs at risk. The Republican budget will end guaranteed Medicare coverage for seniors, I state, end guaranteed Medicare coverage for seniors; cut benefits and turn control over to the insurance industry; and double out-of-pocket costs for seniors over the next decade.

From day one, the Republican plan to end Medicare will toss 4 million seniors into the prescription drug doughnut hole. And from day one, seniors across the Nation will have their copays reinstated for their annual wellness visit.

Seniors in my district understand that we must lower the deficit, but it should not be on the backs of the poor or the disadvantaged. But they also know that it is wrong to end Medicare so we can extend the tax breaks for the millionaires and billionaires. Let's work together on a real budget and lower the deficit.

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