Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Calling for Action to Keep Medicare Affordable

October 7, 2015
Press Release
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a press event with Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley, Seniors Task Force Co-Chairs Doris Matsui and Jan Schakowsky, and American seniors to call on Speaker Boehner and House Republicans to take urgent action to keep Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles affordable for millions of America's seniors.  Below are the Leader's opening and closing remarks:

Leader Pelosi's Opening Remarks

"Good morning everyone.  We are gathered here today to ask our Republican colleagues in the Congress to bring legislation to the floor that would stop an increase in Medicare Part B payments for almost 8 million American seniors and others.

[Applause]

"I'm pleased to be joined by my colleagues, the Chair of the Caucus Xavier Becerra; our Vice Chair Joe Crowley; two leaders on this issue, our co-Chairs of the Senior Task Forces, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congresswoman Doris Matsui.  Thank you for your leadership.  We're pleased to be joined by Jennifer Dexter of Easter Seals; Ron Thompson, President of the Virginia Alliance for Retired Americans, and so many others concerned.  I want to make special mention of Hene Kelley from San Francisco, my constituent who is here from AFT.

[Applause]

"Here we are.  While Congress dithers over establishing committees for a political purpose, the clock is racing on a deadline of October 15th where, unless Congress acts, there will be a big increase in Medicare payments and deductibles.  We have been trying to work with Republicans to get the job done, but again, the clock is ticking.  October 15th is rushing at us.  We are working on legislation to correct that.  We invite our Republican colleagues to join us.  We hope that with your activism and your showing up today they will get the message – by raising the awareness of this issue in our country.

"I'd go into the details but it's very technical.  But it's very personal to the lives of America's seniors and others who depend on Medicare, very critical to states who have dual eligibles of Medicare and Medicaid, very important to many people who pay into the Medicare system and will have their deductible and their premium increased.  So with that, I want to yield to our distinguished Chairmember of the – oh no, I'm going to Jan Schakowsky next.

[Laughter]

"Our distinguished co-Chair of our Senior Task Force, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.  Before she even came to Congress, she was a champion in advancing rights of seniors.  I could go into some more of it but I'll let her talk to you about it because her credentials are unsurpassed in the Congress as is her enthusiasm for stopping this increase from happening.  Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky."

Leader Pelosi's Closing Remarks

[Discussion about the World Series playoffs]

Leader Pelosi.  We're on the every other year plan – every other year, [the San Francisco Giants] win the World Series.

[Laughter]

Jan is all excited about the [Chicago] Cubs.

Chairman Beccera.  The [Los Angeles] Dodgers will take care of the [New York] Mets.  Don't worry.

[Laughter]

Leader Pelosi.  We're not competitive or anything.

[Laughter]

Point is this: For the past month – on a regular basis – we have been reaching out to the Republicans to say, ‘this deadline is racing toward us.'  It's now next week.

For reasons that I won't go into – if we act by October 15th, this will cost the taxpayer less in the overall budget.  If we act before October 15th, it will have less of an impact on states.  We must act so that we stop the pain that will be inflicted upon our seniors.

This is not the first day we are reaching out to them.  We thought we were close to a solution, but when that didn't happen, we had to go public and say, "Republicans, join us in stopping this sharp increase."  And by the way, the harm it does to Medicaid is important to seniors for many reasons, including long-term health care.

So, we have an opportunity.  We can work together in a bipartisan way.  They have to see this as urgent because it is.  So, I thank Ron, and I thank Jennifer for bringing personal stories forward.  There are millions of them in our country.  We want people to know that not only are we hearing what they are saying, we are willing to work in a very bipartisan way to solve the problem.

We, again, call upon the Republican Congress to join us in acting upon this.  Since they have the majority, we can't do it without them.  If it doesn't happen, they have to answer to the American people for that.  Thank you all very much for being here.