Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for all of your good work on this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule for H.R. 2. Since the current flawed Medicare payment rate was enacted in 1997, Congress has kicked the can down the road and has passed 17 different patches to avoid devastating cuts to Medicare. These patches have cost the taxpayers almost $170 billion, more money than it will cost to permanently fix this problem right now. Today, we have the opportunity to actually fix a major problem and pass meaningful legislation that will help keep Medicare solvent and ensure that seniors are able to get the medical care they deserve. As a doctor who has taken care of patients in northern Michigan for over 30 years, I know how terrible it would be if we failed to act today and how seniors would bear the brunt of that failure. Today's legislation may not be perfect; it is a bipartisan compromise that will ensure that Medicare continues to provide necessary health care for my constituents in northern Michigan. I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense and long overdue fix. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar).”