Medicare Premium Fairness Act

Floor Speech

Medicare Premium Fairness Act

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, and hope that we have good bipartisan support for this sensible legislation.

We know that everyone, and particularly seniors who are on fixed incomes, have been hard hit by the worst recession in 70 years. The Labor Department data shows that, for people over 65, 447,000 filed for unemployment in August, which is a 127 percent increase over December of 2007. Over the past year, the number of unemployed workers 75 and older has increased by 33 percent. Why are they even going to work? Because seniors are hurting. They need the money. Now they learn there will be no cost-of-living increase in their Social Security checks.

At a time when health care costs are already claiming a big chunk of their Social Security checks and at a time when out-of-pocket costs are rising and they're forgoing much of their needed care, we can't allow their part B premiums to increase. They need help right now.

I strongly support the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, and I urge my colleagues to support the senior citizens and persons with disabilities by passing H.R. 3631.

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