Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3162, Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007

Floor Speech

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3162, CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND MEDICARE PROTECTION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - August 01, 2007)

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Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, of course, that letter is one of many endorsements of groups coming together because they know that today they are improving health care for our oldest Americans and our youngest Americans.

Unfortunately, my home State of Texas has the distinction of being number one in children with no health insurance, largely due to the indifference of then Governor George Bush who responded too late and too little. His indifference to the health crisis now is hardly surprising given his indifference then.

The Republican prescription drug plan, the largest entitlement increase in recent history, is a study in how to let Medicare ``wither on the vine'' at the time they inject waste, fraud and abuse into the system.

Now Republicans are using every available obstructionist tactic to block our reforms, to curb their own excesses, such as their lavishing billions on big insurance companies. Despite their professed interest in controlling entitlement spending, only two of their 21 committee amendments would have reduced spending and the vast majority would have increased spending on borrowed money.

Their sermons about Medicare insolvency are betrayed by their insistence on undermining it, and their silly claims of ``socialized medicine'' are belied by the bill's endorsement by the American Medical Association and the AARP.

Approve this rule and afford seniors and children the health care that Republican obstructionism would deny them.

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