Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Medicare and Social Security provide an essential benefit for current enrollees and should be strengthened for future generations.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution affirms the House of Representatives' obligation to fulfill the promises made to senior citizens of the United States regarding access to Medicare and Social Security.
It also rejects any changes to Medicare or Social Security that diminish benefits for Americans currently enrolled, or soon to be enrolled, in the Medicare program or the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.
The resolution also expresses the House's commitment that these programs should be strengthened and preserved, and expresses support for efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in these programs.


[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 59 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 59

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Medicare and 
Social Security provide an essential benefit for current enrollees and 
             should be strengthened for future generations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 17, 2019

  Mrs. Lesko (for herself, Mr. Budd, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. 
     Griffith, and Mrs. Brooks of Indiana) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and 
in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Medicare and 
Social Security provide an essential benefit for current enrollees and 
             should be strengthened for future generations.

Whereas, since 1965, Medicare has been, and continues to be, essential for 
        senior citizens of the United States;
Whereas, since 1935, Social Security has been, and continues to be, essential 
        for senior citizens of the United States;
Whereas, in 2018, there were over 60,000,000 citizens of the United States who 
        were Medicare and Social Security beneficiaries, with 10,000 new 
        eligible enrollees each day;
Whereas a promise has been made by the Federal Government to provide Medicare 
        services and Social Security benefits for senior citizens;
Whereas many Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries rely on these critical 
        benefits to make ends meet each month;
Whereas in the absence of meaningful reform, Medicare is scheduled to deplete by 
        2026, according to the nonpartisan Medicare Board of Trustees;
Whereas in the absence of meaningful reform, Social Security is scheduled to 
        deplete by 2034, according to the nonpartisan Social Security 
        Administration;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that $48.5 billion 
        was lost in 2018 due to improper payments, including waste, fraud, and 
        abuse, in the Medicare Program; and
Whereas the Social Security Administration estimates that $10.9 billion was lost 
        in 2018 due to improper payments, including waste, fraud, and abuse, in 
        the Social Security program: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms its deep obligation to fulfill the promises 
        made to senior citizens of the United States regarding access 
        to Medicare and Social Security;
            (2) rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any changes 
        to Medicare or Social Security that diminish benefits for 
        Americans currently enrolled, or citizens of the United States 
        who are in or near retirement, in the Medicare Program under 
        title XVIII of the Social Security Act, or in the Social 
        Security program under title II of such Act;
            (3) expresses its firm commitment that Medicare and Social 
        Security should be strengthened and preserved for future 
        enrollees; and
            (4) supports efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in 
        the Medicare and Social Security programs.
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