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AARP Thanks California's Representatives for Supporting Bill to Protect People in Medicaid

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP thanked the supporters and cosponsors of the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008, which passed today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill prevents massive increases in costs for people in Medicaid by stopping harmful cuts proposed by the administration.

"Today's vote is a victory for allCalifornia residents who rely on Medicaid as the safety net of our health care system," said AARP California State Director Tom Porter. "With 47 million Americans already uninsured, our country and our state cannot afford to make it any harder for our most vulnerable to pay for their health care."

AARP thanks the members of theCalifornia delegation who cosponsored the bill or provided critical support in gaining passage of this legislation first in the Energy & Commerce committee and today in the full House:

Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1]

Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5]

Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6]

Rep Miller, George [CA-7]

Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9]

Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10]

Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11]

Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13]

Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14]

Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15]

Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16]

Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17]

Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18]

Rep Radanovich, George (CA-19)

Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20]

Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23]

Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27]

Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28]

Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29]

Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30]

Rep Becerra, Xavier [CA-31]

Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32]

Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33]

Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34]

Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35]

Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36]

Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37]

Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38]

Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39]

Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43]

Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45]

Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47]

Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51]

Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53]

While AARP supports smart policies to stop fraud, waste and abuse in Medicaid, the cuts proposed by the administration threaten the integrity of the program and shift unreasonable costs to the people in Medicaid and the states.

"We're proud that our U.S. Representatives recognized the harm the administration's proposals would have done to people in California's Medicaid program, and we thank them for acting swiftly and with such wide, bipartisan support to stop these cuts," said Porter. "We now urge Senators Boxer and Feinstein to vote to protect Medicaid as the Senate considers this measure."

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia,Puerto Rico, and theU.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP