Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing and for your work on this important issue. I also would like to thank all of the witnesses for being here today.
On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bipartisan law to establish Medicare and Medicaid. It was a great step in realizing a long-overdue promise to America's seniors. Their federal government would never forget the lessons of the Great Depression-where the sick, the poor, and the downtrodden felt hopeless and forgotten.
The success of Medicare did not just happen overnight-it took decades of work, study, and negotiations to develop this sacred pact with seniors. For years, our predecessors on this very Committee worked tirelessly to get the package just right. We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that this program continues for generations yet unborn.
Today, there are about 54 million senior citizens and persons with disabilities who depend on Medicare. These people are our parents, our neighbors, and our friends. Every American-especially those who worked their entire lives-deserves a federal safety net. They are entitled to a program that works.
I want to thank the Administration for working with us to fight fraud in the Medicare program. Nearly 50 years ago, this Congress made historic progress in ensuring that every American has a chance to live a healthy, long life. The Affordable Care Act continued that dream. This landmark health care law provided the government with better tools to prevent fraud.
Just last year, government anti-fraud programs recovered more than $3 billion from individuals and companies who tried to defraud the program. In the last three years, this Administration has recovered $7 for every dollar spent on anti-fraud investigations. These savings have real benefits for Americans who rely on Medicare every day.
We must do all we can to protect Medicare. It is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue-it is an American responsibility. Today, I look forward to learning what more is needed to fight Medicare fraud and protect this important national treasure.
Again, I would like to thank the witnesses for their hard work. Thank you for your testimony.
