Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act; Providing for Consideration of H. Res. 9, Instructing Certain Committees to Report Legislation Replacing the Job-Killing Health Care Law; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule that we're taking up today instead of focusing on jobs.

The new majority in the House ran on the platform of fiscal responsibility. This bill flies in the face of that promise by adding $230 billion in the short run and over $1 trillion in the long run to our deficit.

As important, under repeal, the Medicare trust fund will become insolvent in 2017. That's just 6 years away. Pushing Medicare over the cliff by passing this repeal breaks a sacred trust with our Nation's seniors to help provide health care coverage in retirement after a lifetime of working and paying taxes.

That is why I went to Rules Committee last night with two colleagues and offered an amendment to guarantee that repeal will not go forward unless it is certified that that repeal will not shorten the life of the Medicare trust fund. Sadly, the Rules Committee didn't allow us to help protect Americas's seniors. They didn't allow that amendment, we will not be able to vote for that amendment on the floor, and I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule.

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