America's Greatest Generation--Our Senior Citizens

Floor Speech

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Ms. FOXX. Thank you very much. I want to thank our colleague from Missouri, Congresswoman Hartzler, for leading this important effort tonight to highlight the concern that Republican women have for the millions of seniors that we represent in Congress.

And, yes, I do come from a little community in western North Carolina that's called Grandfather Community, because there is a mountain there called Grandfather Mountain that's one of the highest mountains east of the Rockies. It's the second highest mountain east of the Rockies. And I have to tell you, when people come and see the beautiful view I have and say, ``How can you leave this to go to Washington?'' I tell them it isn't easy. But I think that we're doing important work here, and it's important that we continue to do this work and represent, I think, the majority of the people in this country. I think highlighting this is very important.

And it's interesting. My colleague from North Carolina who just spoke, Congresswoman Ellmers, and I did not exchange notes, but we both were on the same wavelength in terms of what we wanted to talk about. I read my own mail, I answer all my own letters, and I'm astounded at the number of letters I get from seniors who tell me they're very concerned about the health of the Medicare and Social Security programs.

They are concerned, and they've been misled into thinking that Republicans want to do something negative to those programs. It is amazing the misinformation that's out there about Republicans and our attitude toward Medicare and Social Security. In fact, it's Republicans who have a plan to save Medicare and Social Security, and that's what I tell seniors.

But they've heard that the Congressional Budget Office has projected that Medicare part A would be bankrupt in 10 years; and they know they've paid into these programs, and they're relying on them to provide critical medical care for them when they need it.

In the past, Congresses have taken a pass on reforming these programs to keep them solvent for both today's seniors, as well as for future generations, who are currently paying into them, like we are. But the House Republican Path to Prosperity budget plan provides a way forward. It ensures that Medicare lives long past 2020, when it's now projected to be bankrupt.

The Republican plan, as my colleague from North Carolina said, does nothing to impact Medicare benefits for anyone 55 or older, but it will improve the program so that those 54 and younger will have access to the same kind of health care program enjoyed by Federal employees and Members of Congress. We're often criticized for having a separate program, but this will allow the seniors to participate in the same kind of program that we participate in.

It's far better than letting the program wither on the vine, which is what those who refuse to take action would allow to happen. And again, as my colleague pointed out, it's our friends on the other side of the aisle who voted to cut a half trillion dollars from Medicare.

Not a single Republican voted to do that. Our effort has always been to save Medicare, to save Social Security. And we have the plan to do it, the Path to Prosperity budget and its plan to save Medicare. It's the only plan that preserves Medicare for today's seniors and for future generations.

I think this Special Order will help us get the message out to our constituents and those who are constituents of other Members of Congress; and I want to thank you, Congresswoman Hartzler, for putting on this Special Order tonight.

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