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Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 1, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Health Insurance

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Mr. DOGGETT. Is it just too much to ask that seniors that are struggling in a nursing home after a lifetime of work get a little economic security, that they get a little dignity? Is it too much to bring just a little peace of mind to a family that is burdened with a parent that is suffering from Alzheimer's or some other debilitating condition? Sadly, this does appear to be too much to ask from some here.

One year ago, the House Republican majority's first major action, once they gained control of Congress, was to repeal health insurance reform. At the time they did that, they said they were for ``repeal and replace.'' But the only replacement they offered for their repeal was a little flimsy 1 1/2 -page bill that I call ``the 12 platitudes.''

They proved to be only platitudes because during the intervening months, they've done nothing about long-term health care or any other kind of health care for the American people.

Today, they continue to deny Americans actual solutions to health care problems, and once again, they have a flimsy 1 1/2 page bill. They don't have ``repeal and replace,'' they have ``repeal and deny.'' They're in a state ofdenial that there is a problem with long-term care, and they continue to deny meaningful relief to families that are struggling with health care bills, and particularly, long-term health care bills.

There is a 75 percent chance that some American who reaches age 65 will find themselves in need of long-term care. Paying for that care can bankrupt a family and the children of a parent who needs that kind of care. An average cost for nursing home services, for example, of $70,000 can surely and quickly sink a lifetime of savings.

The CLASS Act is far from perfect. It needs to be changed. But instead of repealing it, we ought to be focusing on necessary changes. Where is the commitment to doing something about long-term care? There haven't even been hearings on how to resolve this problem.

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