What This Bill Does
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for Medicare and commitment to strengthen it. The resolution states the House will not use Medicare funds to finance other policy priorities and criticizes previous uses of Medicare money for other purposes.
Who It Affects
Medicare beneficiaries (people who receive Medicare health insurance coverage)
Current retirees
People nearing retirement age
Key Provisions
The House affirms that current retirees and those nearing retirement expect certain Medicare commitments to be maintained, since Medicare has been a vital way for senior citizens to access health care (Resolution, lines 1-5).
The House states its commitment is to save and strengthen Medicare and to stop using Medicare as a funding source for other partisan policy priorities (Resolution, lines 6-10).
What Changes
This is a resolution expressing the House's position and does not create new laws or requirements. It states an intention to protect Medicare funding, but the bill text does not specify what concrete actions will be taken.
Important Definitions
Medicare: Government health insurance established in 1965 to provide health coverage to senior citizens
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 118
Maintaining Medicare.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Ms. VAN DUYNE (for herself, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. WITTMAN, Mrs. MILLER of
West Virginia, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Ms. GREENE of Georgia, Mr. MILLS,
Mrs. LESKO, Mr. MCCORMICK, Mrs. MCCLAIN, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr.
DONALDS, and Mr. JACKSON of Texas) submitted the following resolu-
tion; 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 con-
cerned
RESOLUTION
Maintaining Medicare.
Whereas, created in 1965, Medicare was established to pro-
vide Government health insurance to senior citizens;
Whereas now roughly 65,200,000 individuals utilize Medicare
to provide health care coverage;
Whereas under President Biden, health care prices have risen
nearly 30 percent in 2022 where seniors and everyday
Americans saw the largest increase on record;
Whereas, due in part to the increased cost of living caused
by President Biden’s mismanagement of the economy, the
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•HRES 118 IH
standard Medicare beneficiary saw an increase of $21.60
a month for their 2022 premiums;
Whereas, during the 117th Congress, funds meant for Medi-
care were reallocated to pay for partisan policies outside
of the Medicare program in the Inflation Reduction Act;
Whereas Democrats cut over $289,000,000 out of Medicare
to
give
insurance
companies
handouts
to
boost
Obamacare and finance Democrats’ pet green energy
projects instead of strengthening Medicare for future
generations; and
Whereas President Biden has accused House Republicans of
threatening to cut Medicare: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That—
1
(1) the House of Representatives affirms cur-
2
rent retirees and those nearing retirement expect
3
certain Medicare commitments to be made, as Medi-
4
care has been one of the vital pillars for senior citi-
5
zens to access health care; and
6
(2) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
7
tives that its commitment to the United States is to
8
save and strengthen Medicare and no longer use
9
Medicare as a slush fund to finance Democrats’ par-
10
tisan policy agenda.
11
Æ
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