Pelosi Statement on 52nd Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid

"Fifty-two years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, enshrining a bedrock commitment to seniors and hard-working families that they would never ‘be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine.'  Since that day, these life-changing initiatives have ensured not only the health security of older and lower-income Americans, but also their hard-earned savings.

"For decades, Republicans have conspired to gut Medicaid and advanced their goal to make Medicare ‘wither on the vine.'  Trumpcare was yet another effort to cut Medicare and Medicaid and the lifeline they provide to so many Americans. Democrats must and will remain always vigilant against future attempts to pare back or destroy these vital initiatives, and will fight to forge constructive progress to improve the health care of all Americans.  As always, Democrats extend the hand of friendship to Republicans to join us in this mission.

"Medicare has transformed what it means to be an older American, giving seniors a newfound peace of mind, while Medicaid has been a life-saving safety net.  On this day, we celebrate the transformative power of these two initiatives, and renew our commitment to protecting the health and pocketbooks of the American people.  Let us remember the words of Deuteronomy, which President Johnson so beautifully quoted 52 years ago: ‘open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, to thy needy, in thy land.'"