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Pelosi Remarks at the 49th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid Press Conference Today

July 30, 2014

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), and Seniors Task Force co-chairs Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) held a press event to celebrate the 49th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965, Medicare and Medicaid provide health care to millions of older and low-income Americans and families. Medicare serves more than 50 million seniors and people with disabilities, including 4.6 million low-income seniors who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Below are the Leader's remarks:

"Good morning. It's still morning. Good morning everyone. Thank you very much for being here.

"Hands off. No cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid. I join my colleagues in saying it is an honor to be here with each and every one of you. It's certainly my privilege to be here with the co-chairs of our Caucus, our Seniors Task Force, the co-chairs Jan Schakowsky and Doris Matsui, and members of the Task Force, Governor-to-be Mike Michaud, Marcy Kaptur, and our distinguished chair of the Democratic Caucus, Xavier Becerra, in addition to being here with Max Richmond from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and all of you.

"I associate myself with the remarks of my colleagues about our commitment to Medicare and Medicaid – the pride we take in its introduction and becoming law 49 years ago. And I would continue the quote that Doris Matsui said about our seniors. The third point that President Lyndon B. Johnson made when he signed the bill is: ‘No longer will young families see their own incomes and their own hopes eaten away simply because they are carrying out their deep moral obligation to their parents.' So, this isn't just about seniors and people with disabilities; this is about families in America. And, again, they said it all; and I support what they said. So I thought I'd take a moment to tell a little different story to you.

"When I was very young, I was in Baltimore. My father had been the Mayor of Baltimore and was a leading supporter of John F. Kennedy to be President of the United States. This was the beginning of 1960. And then to-be-President Kennedy – Senator Kennedy – came to Baltimore to campaign, and they had a show: Senator Kennedy Answers Your Question. And they asked the three of us, because my father was invited to be one of the three people who took the calls of the people calling in for Senator Kennedy to answer their question. Every call was a call either from a senior or a family member saying: "When are we going to have help with healthcare for our seniors?"

"That was 54 years ago. And I heard Senator Kennedy identify with what President Truman had put forth and the rest of that and the promise of all of this. Of course, he did not live to pass and sign this bill. President Johnson did, and we quote his beautiful words. But when President Johnson signed this bill – he signed it in Independence, Missouri, the home of Harry Truman with Truman and his wife Bess there – recognizing that this had been a long-term commitment to Medicare and Medicaid. That is all to say – as the background of this springs from those who share our values about helping all people in our country, recognizing the contributions that seniors have made to growing our country – the responsibility we have to people with disabilities. And that's why our commitment is a deep one. And that's why we fight when people try to undermine Medicare and use the excuse of this, that, or the other thing to do so. But co-chair Schakowsky spelled out what is at risk in the Ryan budget, and Congresswoman Matsui spelled out what we have to do to fight that.

"As we observe the 49th anniversary, we are starting the 50th year of Medicare and Medicaid; and it is our commitment to you to consistently vote to support and to strengthen it. And I'm very delighted that to make the case more strongly than any of us could, are our special guests today David Waugh, and Annette Hartenstein, and Diane Fleming. But before we hear from them, we are honored to have the presence of our distinguished chair of the House Democratic Caucus bringing the commitment of every person in our Caucus, Xavier Becerra."

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Issues:Health Care