Bill Archer: “Mr. Speaker, today marks a great and a historic day. We are poised to vote on a matter that unites Americans from all…”

“Mr. Speaker, today marks a great and a historic day. We are poised to vote on a matter that unites Americans from all generations. We stand ready to vote on a bill that brings the American people together like no other legislation before us. With this vote, we can balance the budget to save the next generation from the crushing burden of debt, and we can save Medicare from bankruptcy so this generation of seniors can live their retirement years in peace, comfort, and security. It is high time that Washington put the needs of the American people first, and that is what we will do with this vote. This legislation is bipartisan. Our plan to save Medicare was supported in the Committee on Ways and Means by a 36 to 3 vote. We came together, like the American people want us to do. We will save Medicare by giving seniors choices, by fighting fraud and abuse, and we even expand Medicare's benefits to include new preventive programs that seniors, particularly women, need and deserve. We help people move from welfare to work by reinforcing the central message of last year's welfare reform law: If you are able to work, you should work. Welfare should not be a way of life.”