To protect and improve guaranteed Medicare benefits.

SA 2826. Mr. BENNET (for himself, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Brown,
Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bayh, and Mrs.
Shaheen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA
2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Mr.
Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members
of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 1134, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:

Subtitle G--Protecting and Improving Guaranteed Medicare Benefits

SEC. 3601. PROTECTING AND IMPROVING GUARANTEED MEDICARE
BENEFITS.

(a) Protecting Guaranteed Medicare Benefits.--Nothing in
the provisions of, or amendments made by, this Act shall
result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act.
(b) Ensuring That Medicare Savings Benefit the Medicare
Program and Medicare Beneficiaries.--Savings generated for
the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security
Act under the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act
shall extend the solvency of the Medicare trust funds, reduce
Medicare premiums and other cost-sharing for beneficiaries,
and improve or expand guaranteed Medicare benefits and
protect access to Medicare providers.
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