REP. TANNER: COMMISSION NEEDED TO RECOMMEND REFORMS TO MEDICARE, MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY

Re-Introduces Legislation with Rep. Castle, Sens. Hagel, Webb

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) again called for a bipartisan commission to study how to fix the long-term instability of Social Security and Medicare. A new report from the Social Security and Medicare trustees says without reform, Medicare will be financially insolvent by 2019 and Social Security by 2041.

Tanner introduced the “Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission Act” (H.R. 2042) late Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE). Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced identical legislation in the U.S. Senate. Tanner and Hagel had sponsored similar legislation in the 109^th Congress two years ago.

An aging population and stagnant birth rates mean the current entitlement systems will have to pay out more money than is coming in, Tanner said.

“Millions of Americans depend on Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid everyday, but the programs are not financially sustainable over time if we do not take a comprehensive look at potential reforms,” Tanner said. “We have a responsibility to strengthen these programs for the Baby Boomers who are retiring now and also for future generations who deserve the assistance they have helped support for those before them.”

The bipartisan entitlement reform commission would be comprised of eight members – none of whom could be sitting Members of Congress – appointed by bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate. The Government Accountability Office would perform oversight of the commission, which would also work with full public access. The commission would be required to submit a final report to the president and Congress within one year, and Congress would be encouraged to hold committee hearings to review the commission’s recommendations.

“This commission would be faced with making some very tough choices,” Tanner said, “but those decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later.”

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th Congressional district in west and middle Tennessee. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the legislative branch of NATO. Tanner is also a founding member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714