Medicare Anniversary

Floor Speech

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate an important accomplishment for our Nation, as it was 48 years ago today that President Johnson signed Medicare into law, thus cementing a promise to our Nation's seniors.

Before Medicare, nearly 30 percent of seniors lived below the poverty line and American life expectancy was 70 years old. Since then, the poverty rate has plummeted all the way down to 7.5 percent and life expectancy has risen to 78-1/2 years.

Madam Speaker, Medicare is a sacred promise that we made, and it is a sacred promise that we must keep, despite the House Republicans' addiction to slash-and-burn policies. If the House Republicans got their way, they would replace Medicare with a voucher system, removing the certainty of what seniors will receive. These are benefits that have been earned and paid for, but turning Medicare into a voucher system will result in reduced benefits and increased health care costs.

The Democratic Party, however, believes that working families should not lose their life savings in their golden years to pay for health care, and they should not suffer without treatment due to an inability to pay for medical services. The Democratic Party believes that seniors deserve the certainty of Medicare.

Madam Speaker, on this day, the 48th anniversary of Medicare, I pledge to uphold the promises we made to seniors and to never turn my back on working families.

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