Shelley Berkley: “last week I appeared before the Committee on Rules to focus attention on one section of H.R. 853 that threatens to…”

“last week I appeared before the Committee on Rules to focus attention on one section of H.R. 853 that threatens to undermine the American public's confidence in Medicare. I am referring to provisions in title IV that require authorizing committees to establish a schedule for sunsetting and reauthorizing all mandatory spending programs, including Medicare, over 10 years and that limit the authorization of any new mandatory program to 10 years. Congress needs to ensure that taxpayers' funds are spent wisely. However, the authorizing committees already have both the responsibility and authority to conduct such oversight. Lack of effective oversight is not a consequence of the way that the budget process operates. Nor is it due to the permanent authorization of fundamental programs such as Medicare. In fact, the authorizing committees regularly review the programs under their jurisdiction and report legislation updating them. The Committee on Ways and Means has regularly held hearings on Medicare and has proposed a number of reforms in recent years to modernize the program. For instance, we are now considering creating a prescription drug benefit for seniors that would, I hope, become part of Medicare. Why would we want to create the uncertainty of limiting a prescription drug benefit to only 10 years? And why should Medicare itself be put on a schedule that might call into doubt the future of the program? Such outcomes would do little good and possibly great harm.”