Janice Schakowsky: “I think it's so important that we explain the details of this bill because there have been a lot of myths out there…”

“I think it's so important that we explain the details of this bill because there have been a lot of myths out there particularly aimed at older Americans. And it really makes me mad. There has been a lot of fear about how somehow this bill is going to cut Medicare. And I'm going to talk about how that is exactly the opposite, how this bill is actually going to extend the life of Medicare, not cut any benefits. So let's look at some of these things, how health care reform means security and stability for America's seniors, extends the solvency of Medicare. What does that even mean? Extend the solvency of Medicare. What that means is that currently if you look at the Medicare funds, by 2017, that fund is going to be in some trouble. Aha. But we pass this bill, and the solvency, the health of the Medicare Trust Fund is going to be extended another 9 years. So we are now up to 2026.”