[Page H2936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MEDICAID SHOULD SERVE THE TRULY NEEDY

  (Mr. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of noise coming from the 
other side claiming that House Republicans are cutting Medicaid with 
our commonsense work requirements.
  Let me be clear: That is just not true.
  You can't cut something from someone who was never or is no longer 
eligible to receive it.
  According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, of the 7.8 
million people Democrats say would lose coverage, 4.8 million are able-
bodied adults with no kids who could work, but don't. Another 1.4 
million are in the country illegally and 2.2 million simply don't 
qualify under the law already.
  Medicaid should serve the truly needy, not those who refuse to help 
themselves. House Republicans don't cut Medicaid. That is not what we 
are doing in this bill. We restore its integrity because work 
requirements are not a punishment. They are a path to dignity and 
independence.

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