Lee Metcalf: “Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely critical to protect and preserve Medicare. We cannot allow it to continue toward…”

“Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely critical to protect and preserve Medicare. We cannot allow it to continue toward bankruptcy. It will be very difficult, but I will tell you, we will succeed in keeping Medicare so people can stay in their own homes. Homeownership is something I am critically interested in. I will briefly comment on this as related to Medicare. Very important, really critical, and that is homeownership. As chairman of the Republican Opportunity Caucus, I can sincerely speak on one of the most important issues facing our Nation, the ability of our people to realize the American dream and participate in one of our greatest opportunities, homeownership, and the right of the Medicare recipients to stay as long as possible in their own homes. While there is no magic silver bullet in finding ways to increase homeownership, we can find solutions by working together. In some cases, Federal programs such as the low income housing tax credit, FHA, HUD or the Federal Home Loan Bank have been the catalyst for developing homeownership. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, these important programs I have mentioned, and important ownership encouragements, such as maintaining the home mortgage deduction, have brought people from renting to owning, fulfilling the dream of so many Americans. Not only does homeownership benefit the individual home buyer, but the spin-off of the home building industry is the catalyst for our national economy.”