Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce

MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES
FISCAL YEAR 2006 BUDGET

April 26, 2005

Medicaid is critically important for more than 50 million Americans. It provides healthcare for one in four children. It is a lifeline for the elderly and individuals with disabilities, paying for their long-term care. It helps those who have had the misfortune of becoming ill and needing help with their basic activities of daily living.

The proposed cuts in the program would cause undue harm for millions of our most vulnerable Americans. If a ten billion dollar cut were enacted, my home State of Michigan alone stands to lose more than a quarter of a billion dollars over the next five years.

A bipartisan majority of both the House and Senate oppose cuts to this program. Nearly 1,000 state organizations and more than 800 national organizations have voiced opposition to such cuts.

This motion instructs the conferees to recede to the Senate budget position. Instead of Medicaid cuts, a non-partisan, independently-appointed Commission would be instructed to come up with improvements to the program.

Medicaid is not the problem. It has done a better job at holding down costs than private insurance. Medicaid is absorbing the costs of care not covered under Medicare. An independent look at Medicaid may show that the better solution is to shore up, not cut, this program that so many Americans depend upon for vital services.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this Motion to Instruct.

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(Contact: Jodi Seth, 202-225-3641)