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.

IV 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 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 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 fu- ture 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR59.IH HR59 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 59 IH Whereas a promise has been made by the Federal Govern- ment 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 non- partisan Medicare Board of Trustees; Whereas in the absence of meaningful reform, Social Security is scheduled to deplete by 2034, according to the non- partisan Social Security Administration; Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services esti- mates that $48.5 billion was lost in 2018 due to im- proper 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 (1) affirms its deep obligation to fulfill the 2 promises made to senior citizens of the United 3 States regarding access to Medicare and Social Se- 4 curity; 5 (2) rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any 6 changes to Medicare or Social Security that diminish 7 benefits for Americans currently enrolled, or citizens 8 of the United States who are in or near retirement, 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR59.IH HR59 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 59 IH in the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the 1 Social Security Act, or in the Social Security pro- 2 gram under title II of such Act; 3 (3) expresses its firm commitment that Medi- 4 care and Social Security should be strengthened and 5 preserved for future enrollees; and 6 (4) supports efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and 7 abuse in the Medicare and Social Security programs. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:45 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR59.IH HR59 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS