[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 10337] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]H.R. 5613, THE PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET ACT ______ HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. of michigan in the house of representatives Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to voice my strong support for H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act. This important bipartisan bill extends a moratorium until April 1, 2009 on seven Administration-imposed Medicaid regulations that if implemented, would severely reduce federal Medicaid funding. Without the moratorium, Medicaid funding to states for vital programs and services would be cut by $18 billion over the next 5 years. These cuts include restrictions on Medicaid payments for graduate medical education, GME, rehabilitation services, and outpatient hospital services, among other services. It would be irresponsible to think about cutting funding to academic medical centers and residency training programs when we currently face a shortage of physicians. If these cuts were allowed to go into effect, we would be unable to provide necessary medical services to many people who depend upon Medicaid. Constantly cutting funds to the very services which keep our fragmented, nonsystem of health care afloat is inhumane and nonsensical. The tactic of underfunding federal programs in an attempt to undermine their effectiveness demonstrates the Administration's lack of commitment to the programs that faithfully and effectively serve the American people. Madam Speaker, passage of H.R. 5613 is simply a necessity. We must halt the underfunding of important Medicaid programs. I wholeheartedly support the passage of H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act. ____________________