Pelosi Address to American Society on Aging, National Council on the Aging Joint Conference
Pelosi Address to American Society on Aging, National Council on the Aging Joint Conference
Saturday, April 17, 2004
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today addressed more than 2,000 health professionals at a joint conference in San Francisco of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on the Aging. Below are her remarks:
"Jim Firman, thank you for your gracious introduction and for your work on behalf of our nation's senior citizens. Thank you, Chairman Sandy King and the Board of Directors of the National Council on the Aging. And thank you, President Gloria Cavanaugh and the Board of Directors of the American Society on Aging. And to all the members of the ASA: Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. We are proud that you call our beautiful city home.
"To each and every one of you, thank you for your commitment - to our nation's elderly citizens, to their families, and to building a society that accords older Americans the respect, the dignity, and the care they deserve.
The Promise of a Nation
"The work of your life is the promise of our nation. Next year, we will commemorate historic milestones in our national commitment to keep faith with our senior citizens - the 75th anniversary of the Social Security Act and the 40th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act.
"When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, he said: 'We can never insure 100 percent of the population against 100 percent of the hazards and vicissitudes of life.' And he added, 'This law . . . represents a cornerstone in a structure which . . . is by no means complete.'
"Today, older Americans are living longer and living better than ever before. Fewer endure the 'hazards and vicissitudes' of poverty. More are active in their communities.
"At the same time, we recognize that our work is by no means complete. The challenge remains. We must preserve and strengthen the cornerstones of a just and compassionate society.
Protecting Social Security
"As a nation, we must keep our promise that retirement be a time of dignity and security. Social Security is rightly cherished as one of the most successful social policies in our history.
"But as Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan recently pointed out, Social Security may be in jeopardy. He said that due to record federal budget deficits, the President may have to cut Social Security benefits to pay for his tax cuts for millionaires.
"That is unconscionable. We face record deficits not because of our responsibilities to our senior citizens but because President Bush and Republicans in Congress have abandoned fiscal responsibility -spending every last penny of the Social Security Trust Fund.
"Republicans want to use the deficits they created as an excuse to realize their dream of privatizing Social Security.
"Democrats will not let Republicans privatize Social Security and break America's solemn promise for a retirement of dignity and security. Not now. Not ever.
Protecting Medicare
"As a nation, we must keep our promise of quality and affordable health care for older Americans. Our senior citizens have trusted Medicare for 40 years.
"But the recent prescription drug bill passed by Republicans and signed by President Bush will weaken not strengthen Medicare. The more seniors learn about the bill, the less they like it.
"Older Americans were clear - they wanted a real, guaranteed, defined prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Instead, Republicans passed a cruel hoax.
"Instead of reducing drug prices, it actually prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower prices. Instead of strengthening Medicare, it actually weakens this trusted program by pushing seniors into HMOs. Worst of all, instead of saving money, the Republican bill actually pays private plans more - $46 billion more - in overpayments to HMOs.
"Republicans passed a bill to dismantle Medicare. Democrats are working to repeal this terrible bill. We are also fighting to give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to negotiate lower prices. And we are fighting to legalize the safe re-importation of these drugs from Canada and elsewhere.
Protecting Medicaid
"As a nation, we must also keep our promise to our most vulnerable citizens. That commitment - the promise of Medicaid - relies on a partnership between the federal and state governments.
"Today, the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress are making it harder for states to receive Medicaid funding and favor block grants that would give states incentives to limit care. But shifting more costs and responsibilities for Medicaid to the states is not the answer to the challenges faced by Medicaid.
"Democrats oppose ending Medicaid's guaranteed benefit. And we support adjusting the federal matching rate for Medicaid to provide states more money to help meet rising health care costs.
"This is a moral issue. We do not move forward as a society by leaving behind our children, our seniors, and the disabled.
Protecting Long-Term Care & Veterans
"Finally, as a nation, we must keep our promise to help our senior citizens meet the difficult challenges of daily life.
"That is why I have fought so hard to increase federal funding for Alzheimer's disease research. More than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a number that is expected to triple within the next 50 years.
"And that is why I have fought for full funding for nutrition and support services under the Older Americans Act. Sadly, the President's budget, which provides another $1 trillion in tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, increases funding for critical services under the Older Americans Act by less than 1 percent.
"As a nation, we also owe a special debt to those who have worn America's uniform. But President Bush has not kept faith with our veterans; he proposes increasing health care costs for veterans.
"Democrats are fighting to improve veterans' health care and to give veterans and their spouses the full pensions and survivor benefits they have earned.
Keeping the Promise
"Today's senior citizens hold a revered place in the life of our nation. They are the Greatest Generation. They fought our wars. They came home and raised our families. They built a new America.
"Now, these Americans look to you for the independence, opportunity and dignity they deserve. And they look to their government to preserve the 'cornerstones' of a just and compassionate society.
"On behalf of the Democratic Party, I pledge to you today: we will keep and strengthen the promise of Social Security, we will keep and strengthen the promise of Medicare and Medicaid, and we will keep and strengthen the promise of the Older Americans Act.
"As a nation, we cannot, we must not, and we will not abandon our older Americans."