Frank Pallone: “I rise on the floor to call attention to the fiscal year 2004 budget resolution conference report and to express my…”

“I rise on the floor to call attention to the fiscal year 2004 budget resolution conference report and to express my opposition to the inclusion of any Medicaid or Medicare cuts as part of the final budget resolution. Mr. Speaker, although the House-passed budget reconciliation contains an instruction to cut the Medicaid program by $93 billion over 10 years, neither the Senate budget resolution nor the administration budget includes such devastating cuts to the Medicaid program. As Members know, the Medicaid program provides essential health coverage to 47 million low-income children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities. Moreover, this critical safety net program under Medicare also contributes significantly to State economies by stimulating employment and business activity which we cannot afford to undermine. States, Mr. Speaker, are currently facing the most severe budget crisis since World War II and nearly every State has proposed or enacted cuts in its Medicaid program. Any reduction in Federal Medicaid funding would place millions of vulnerable Americans now receiving Medicaid in jeopardy of losing their health insurance.”