House Proceeding 10-14-09 on Oct 14th, 2009 :: 2:12:35 to 2:20:05
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2:12:31 to 2:12:51( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: they don't want folks who will give us the sam because we can't survive with we can. ms. fudge: thank you very, very much. i'm please to have had you join me this evening, mr. ellison. i thank you for your work. you do outstanding work on behalf of people with the

2:12:35 to 2:20:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Barbara Lee

2:12:52 to 2:13:12( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: feeds, -- needs, i am happy you could join us. it seems we are now joined by our chair, barbara lee, i yield to her, thank you for being here. ms. lee: thank you for yielding and also thank you for your leadership to m issues that are important to our country, to the congressional black caucus, and

2:13:13 to 2:13:34( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: to all of us are brought foward on this floor. i rise tonight on behalf of, i have to say, we have nearly 70,000 senior citizens in my district whom i have the privilege to represent. in the ninth congressional district of california. but also for seniors across this country. as our nation's economic

2:13:35 to 2:13:58( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: uncertainty continues, it is -- these individuals who are -- it is these individuals who are struggling at a disproportionate rate to overcome the grip of poverty and maintain their qualitof life. it's so important that tonight we talk about what is going on with our senior citizens and how important this moment is for them.

2:14:04 to 2:14:26( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: . these hardships are more acute for african americans and latinos. these poverty levels more than doubled the national average for all individuals over 65 years of age. now, i firmly believe, like congresswoman fudge, like all of us here believe in the

2:14:27 to 2:14:48( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: congressional black caucus, we believe we have a moral responsibility and a duty and an obligation to reverse this disturbing trend by utilizing the full constitutional power, statutory authority and the resources of our government to provide opportunities for all and to develop these pathway s

2:14:49 to 2:15:11( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: out of poverty for our seniors. they include critical programs, such as social security, continued suppor and reforming our nation's health care system, which you heard about earlier and which we are in the midst of reforming as we speak, social security benefits constitute 90% of the income of 1/3 of americans over 65.

2:15:12 to 2:15:32( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: many of the 75,000 residents of my district who receive social securi are dependent on their guaranteed benefits. without these vital benefits, nearly 50%, mind you, 50% of seniors nationwide would be forced to live in poverty which is a five-fold increase over the present rate. this makes it very critical for

2:15:33 to 2:15:55( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: all of us to fight against any effort that would threate benefits on which so many senior citizens rely. i hear this from my mother each and every day. and so on her behalf, i want to reiterate that once again. we must also understand that as thcosts of medical care

2:15:56 to 2:16:16( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: continues to rise, insuring individuals' economic stability is link todd reforming our broken health care system. today, as a nation, we spend approximately $2.2 trillion per year on health care or $7,400 per person, which is twice the average of every developed

2:16:17 to 2:16:37( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: nation and what we spend on housing and food. as members of congress, especially members of the congressional black caucus here who really do represent the men, women and children, especially seniors who are underinsured and uninsured and whose health and wellness have suffered because of the numerous gaps.

2:16:38 to 2:16:59( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: and some of us are calling these moral gaps, in our nation's health care system, we support efforts to reform and modernize america's health care system through comprehensive health care reform. and members of the congressional black caucus support health care reform that includes a strong, robust public option, like medicare.

2:17:00 to 2:17:20( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: a component of health care reform for which ware un waivering in our support. and we want to protect medicare for our seniors and we are determined to do that. that is strengthen and protect medicare for our seniors. and we agree that medicare services should not be reduced

2:17:21 to 2:17:41( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: as a means of paying for this health care reform bill. while the proposed provisions for a robust public option will not be implemented until 2013, we recognize that as early as 2010, many positive reforms will be enacted, such as prohibiting the abusive health insurance

2:17:42 to 2:18:02( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: practice of rescinding existing coverage in order to avoid future costs, improving preventive care and coverage, making prescription drugs more gaps in coverage and increasing funding for community health centers. this is essential in our health care reform package. as i said earlier, we want to

2:18:03 to 2:18:23( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: strengthen and protect medicare for our seniors. finally let me say as a member of the subcommitteon labor, health, hu education of the appropriations committee, i would like to highlight the initiatives in the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill that strifes to close the huge gaps in coverage and cease for

2:18:24 to 2:18:44( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: america's seniors. by providing $22 million to reduce hospital infections that cause 100,000 deaths each year. that is staggering, hospital and clinic infections cause nearly 10,000 deaths each year. what we did is we put in $22

2:18:45 to 2:19:05( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: million so we can begin to combat these avoidable infections and reduce hospital re-admission rates. $45 million has been set afide for counseling for seniors so millions of medicare beneficiaries can get the help that

2:19:06 to 2:19:26( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: tilize their complex benef and i understand how complex some of this can be and this counseling is so important for those of us who have mothers, fathers, grandparents and aunts and uncles who are senior citizens. we know very clearly how ifficult it is to weed through some of these forms and some of

2:19:27 to 2:19:47( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: these benefit reg rules and we need to make it less complicated. so hopefully this $45 million will help our senior citizens. our seniors are the greatest generation and have given much over the years. so it must be our charge to

2:19:48 to 2:20:05( Edit History Discussion )

Barbara Lee: support them and to remain focused on tackling the many challenges facing our nation. so we look forward to with our leadership on both sides, democrats and republicans, in the following weks to do everything that we can to continue to guarantee