Congressional Record—Senate S928
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S928 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE January 22, 1999 Nixon became known, Dave became Tuesday by Senator GRASSLEY and my- Thus, a typical employee planning outspoken in his condemnation of the self. S. 35, The Long Term Care Afford- ahead for retirement cannot purchase cover-up and in his demand that Presi- ability and Availability Act of 1999, long term care insurance on a tax de- dent Nixon should resign. would give all Americans a tax deduc- ductible basis. I was privileged to watch at close tion for the premiums they pay for The bill we are introducing today range a courageous public servant at long term care insurance. would improve on Kennedy- work who, even in the midst of a par- The cost of long term care has risen Kassenbaum by allowing Americans to tisan election campaign, was never in to astonishing levels in recent years. In deduct long term care insurance pre- doubt that he should speak the truth as 1995, it averaged $37,000 per year. What miums regardless of whether or not he saw it and let the chips fall where this means is that a chronic illness re- they are self-employed or whether they they may. quiring long term care can represent a itemize deductions or have any other Neither Dave nor I were successful in financial catastrophe for retired Amer- health expense. Effectively, the bill the 1974 campaign, but I looked forward icans and their families. A retired cou- would put long term care insurance on throughout subsequent years to our ple might have a pension and basic a par with pensions. Just as everyone meetings. We not only reminisced health care, but the couple is not se- can save for a pension on a tax deduct- about battles of the past, we discussed cure in retirement so long as their fi- ible basis, everyone should be able to the future with expectations that great nancial resources can be depleted by purchase long term care insurance in things could occur in our country long term care bills. the same fashion. through constructive leadership. Many Americans think Medicare cov- A better deduction for long term care David Dennis remained a leader after ers the cost of long term care. In fact, insurance premiums could also help us returning in 1975 to practice law in it covers only the first 100 days of care by encouraging younger Americans to Richmond, Indiana. Still active in Re- following a hospital stay. Yet the aver- purchase insurance now, when the cov- publican politics, he continued his ca- age nursing home stay is 2.5 years. erage is readily affordable. For exam- reer as an attorney, where he was loved Medicaid, unlike Medicare, does ple, a quality long term care insurance and respected by the Richmond com- cover long term careÐbut only for policy purchased at age forty, can cost munity. He was known for his fairness beneficiaries who use up their life sav- less than $50 per month. and his dedication to the practice of ings and income first. Medicaid, after Mr. President, every person who is law. Describing Dave's legal calling, a all, is a program for the poor, and long covered by long term care insurance is friend quoted in the Richmond Palla- term care beneficiaries must become one fewer potential Medicaid claimant. dium-Item summed up his dedication: impoverished to qualify. Furthermore, A recent study by the American Coun- ``He understood it as a service to the beneficiaries who rely on Medicaid cil for Life Insurance indicates that community. In the same way, David must use providers that are chosen for long term care insurance has the po- Dennis saw politics as a profession, not themÐnot providers of their own tential to reduce future out of pocket a way to get ahead.'' Dave was truly an choice. Even with these restrictions, expenditures on long term care by 40 advocate who loved the roles he played Medicaid currently pays more than $30 percent and future Medicaid long term in both the legislative and the judicial billion per year for nursing home care. care expenditures by more than 20%. In systems of our country. The budgetary challenges provided other words, long term care insurance I last saw David Dennis at a Repub- by Medicare and Medicaid are on has the capacity both to protect sen- lican dinner in Richmond during the course to become ever more acute in iors from financial catastrophe, and to 1994 campaign. He was introduced and coming years, as the baby boom gen- help protect entitlement programs received a wonderful ovation from eration ages. By 2030, as the number of from long term insolvency. Wayne County Republicans, who re- people over 65 doubles, fully 32 states Mr. President, I also want to applaud vered his service and were so grateful will have the demographics that Flor- the President's long term care initia- for his continuing citizenship in the ida has today. The fastest growing seg- tive, which he announced two weeks community he loved. I was able to keep ment of the population will be those ago. In proposing a tax credit for indi- in touch with news of Dave through his over 85 with an expected 143% increase viduals who provide long term care to son, William C. Dennis II, who served by 2030. People over 85 are at least 5 dependents, President Clinton also as a remarkably energetic professor at times more likely to reside in a nurs- pledged to increase efforts to educate my alma mater, Denison University. ing home than people who are 65. In Americans about the importance of In addition to his extensive public real terms, nursing home expenditures long term care. Both of these proposals service, David Dennis is remembered are expected to quadruple in the next are consistent with the legislative ef- by friends and family as an engaging three decades. fort that Senator GRASSLEY and I are storyteller and a skilled tennis player. Mr. President, given the accelerating undertaking, and I look forward to Most of all, he is remembered as a cost of long term care and the demo- working with the White House on this loyal friend and loving husband and fa- graphic pressures on Medicare and important issue.· ther. Medicaid and other entitlement pro- f My sympathy is with his children, grams, Congress started several years Bill and Ellen, as well as with his four ago to provide incentives for people to BMC ANTHONY LAWRENCE PETIT grandchildren as they remember and plan ahead for their own needs. The AND THE SCOTCH CAP LIGHT- celebrate the life of an exemplary Hoo- way most Americans plan ahead for HOUSE sier statesman. This standard bearer of long term care is by purchasing long · Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I a great Quaker tradition at Earlham term care insurance. With insurance, rise today to honor the five heros who College added something very special people can be confident that they won't perished in the Scotch Cap Lighthouse to Indiana Political life. We will miss have to impoverish themselves to deal disaster of April 1, 1946Ðfive Coast his wisdom and grace.· with a chronic illness. They won't have Guardsmen who gave their lives so that f to fall back on the Medicaid program others would survive. The lighthouse or family members. keeper was Chief Boatswain's Mate An- AMERICAN WORKER LONG TERM In the Kennedy-Kassenbaum health thony Lawrence Petit. His crew in- CARE AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 1999 reform legislation in 1996, Congress cluded Fireman 1st Class Jack Colvin, · Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, on permitted the deduction of premiums Seaman 1st Class Dewey Dykstra, Tuesday of this week, Senator GRASS- on long term care insurance in the Motor Machinist's Mate 2nd Class LEY and I introduced S. 36, The Amer- same manner as health expenses. The Leonard Pickering, and Seaman 1st ican Worker Long Term Care Afford- trouble is that few peopleÐother than Class Paul James Ness. ability Act of 1999, a bill creating a the self-employedÐcan deduct health Lighthouses will always have a place model long-term care insurance pro- expenses since the tax code allows only in our history. They have warned mari- gram for federal employees. Today, I the portion of health expenses over ners of danger, their crews have res- would like to comment on a related 7.5% of income to be deducted, and cued survivors in the worst conditions long term care bill also introduced on then only as an itemized deduction. imaginable, and their brilliant lamps January 22, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð SENATE S929 have comforted and reassured those enlisted in the Coast Guard as a young to an article that appeared in the Jan- who are bound homeward at last. man in 1926. He never married, and uary 8, 1999, edition of The Washington In 1903, Scotch Cap Light Station was served faithfully in the Coast Guard for Post. It is important because it the first light put in place on the out- the next 20 years. And we know that touched on a serious and growing prob- side coast of Alaska. Located at the just before his final transfer to Scotch lem plaguing our nation's consumers western end of Unimak Island, approxi- Cap, he was quoted saying, ``I hope to and motorists everywhere. Under the mately 425 miles southwest of Anchor- serve at as many Coast Guard ships and title, ``Wrecked Cars, On the Road age, the light marks the entrance to stations as I can before I retire in ten Again,'' the Post writer detailed how Unimak Pass.