Cicilline Calls on Joint Select Super Committee to Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security

WASHINGTON, DC – At a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) called on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

“These programs were created because they reflect the values of our country,” said Congressman Cicilline in his remarks. “We should be incredibly proud of these programs, and must ensure that our country lives up to its promise: that the benefits earned over a lifetime of hard work will provide for seniors in their retirement.”

Congressman Cicilline joined 79 of his colleagues in co-sponsoring House Concurrent Resolution 72 expressing their opposition to any legislative language approved by the Joint Select Committee that would reduce benefits for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security recipients.

Congressman Cicilline also applauds the Social Security Administration’s recent announcement of a 3.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) and the $22 Medicare Part B premium decrease for beneficiaries in 2012, policies that will put money back in the pockets of seniors and help them keep up with the ever-rising costs of medical care, prescription drugs, and housing.

Below is the text of the Congressman’s remarks at the press conference.

I’d like to thank Mr. Conyers for bringing us together today. 

As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction steps closer to submitting a plan to put our country back on a solid fiscal track, it is critical that we protect our vital safety net programs – Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

These programs were created because they reflect the values of our country.  We should be incredibly proud of these programs, and must ensure that our country lives up to its promise: that the benefits earned over a lifetime of hard work will provide for seniors in their retirement.

I speak constantly with seniors in my district and understand that they are struggling to make ends meet, especially when faced with the ever growing costs of health care, prescription drugs and housing. 

Seniors like Rita Manley, from Central Falls Rhode Island, who relies on Social Security for income and Medicare to cover her medication, which costs $400 a month.  Rita would not be able to afford her cancer medication without the support of Medicare. 

We must protect the economic security of all Americans, but it should not be on the backs of our most vulnerable, especially Rita and the millions of Americans like her across our nation. 

We must not ask seniors to sacrifice benefits before asking the wealthiest Americans and large corporation to pay their fair share.

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