Elijah Cummings: “we will soon consider a 1997 fiscal year budget resolution that slashes Medicare and Medicaid funding. The American…”

“we will soon consider a 1997 fiscal year budget resolution that slashes Medicare and Medicaid funding. The American people have given us a clear mandate. They have overwhelmingly told us time and time again to protect our neediest citizens, the disabled, the poor, our children and the elderly. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have a different vision. Their priorities are jumbled, their budget reflects a flawed economic theory and confusion. Two weeks ago I vote for a budget that reflected my district's and the country's priorities. I chose to vote for a 6-year balanced budget that proposed to increase the investments in education, job training, infrastructure, and at the same time protecting Medicare, Medicaid and not demolish it. The recent report issued by the Medicare trustees that forecasts Medicare insolvency does not tell us anything new. We know that Medicare needs mending. Let us take the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I sincerely hope that the speaker is sincere when he said he wants to work in a bipartisan way with the President to save Medicare for our parents and grandparents.”