Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE. Here we are again, ladies and gentlemen. The lights are up, the music is playing and my Republican colleagues are doing the same old song and dance for the American people. The Republicans have spread out their sand, and they're doing their best soft-shoe routine, trying to convince the American people that the repeal of this bill is in their best interest. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Yet we find ourselves here debating the repeal of a law that would have sought to address the long-term crisis burgeoning in this country.

Mr. Chairman, to most people, finding a solution to the long-term care insurance crisis in this country seems like a good law. It must be if 56 national groups, including AARP and SEIU, are against repealing the CLASS Act.

Once again, my Republican colleagues are trying their best to distract the American people from their not seeking a solution with this repeal-the-bill sideshow.

As we debate this repeal, I have heard so many of our colleagues refer to the President needing to come and apologize for introducing this provision in the Affordable Care Act. It occurs to me that the effort to embarrass the President, to harass him, to defy him, that that is more important than finding a solution to the growing challenge of the aging population. Indeed, it is an emerging burgeoning problem.

Ten million Americans need long-term care. Over the next decade, another 5 million Americans will require this care, bringing the total to 15 million people. The problem is only becoming more challenging with estimates that nearly 70 percent of people--the baby boomers--will need some level of long-term care after turning 65. An additional issue is that this is a heavy burden on family budgets.

This law was seeking to provide a national, voluntary, and self-sustaining insurance program for assistance services to aid elderly and disabled people. It would allow individuals to live independently at home and in the community for as long as possible without impoverishing themselves.

It seems that my Republican colleagues are content to defer the dreams of millions of Americans to live with some sort of dignity as they age. As we enjoy this Black History Month, it reminds me of one of my favorite poets, an African American poet who would be 110 years old today, Langston Hughes:

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the Sun? Or fester like a sore--and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

Republicans want to put one man out of a job and would defer the dreams of millions of Americans. Yet, while they continue their song and dance, Mr. Chair, denying seniors the long-term care that they deserve and putting more and more Americans out of work, I hope the American people recognize who is really on their side before we see the American Dream of living and retiring in dignity explode.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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