Jim McDermott: “we are going to call it a premium increase, but it is a tax. It is a tax on the seniors that we are putting on here.”

To make that a reality we have to move the conversation in Congress away from harmful ideas like privatizing the program and cutting seniors' benefits.

It includes a new tool known as the rapid response mechanism that, when used, allows us to promptly raise concerns with the Mexican and Canadian Governments when there are allegations of worker rights violations.

The best way to improve and sustain Medicare is by expanding it and strengthening it because, unfortunately, there are holes in the program that weaken health security of our beneficiaries.

Mr. Blumenauer put through a bill, Mr. Levin and I put a bill in 25 years ago, that everybody in Medicare ought to file an advance directive.