Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

After working hard their entire lives, many seniors are not enjoying the stable, safe retirement they deserve. One of every ten senior citizens lives in poverty and over 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 continue to work out of necessity. Worse, many of the benefits that our elder population relies on -- such as Social Security and Medicare -- are currently being threatened.

Social Security, arguably one of the most successful government programs since its creation in 1935, is a promise from America to all citizens. It's the promise that you will have a chance to retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. For the majority of retirees, Social Security provides more than fifty percent of their annual income, and without it, nearly half of all seniors would be living in poverty.

Similarly, Medicare provides a stabilizing benefit to seniors who are being burdened by increased healthcare costs. It is currently the largest health insurance program in the country, insuring people age 65 and over, those under age 65 but who suffer from qualifying disabilities and any individual with permanent kidney failure.

Social Security and Medicare are vital programs for our senior community.

Over 17% of our district's population is age 65 or over, making the 9th Congressional District home to the largest senior population in the State. As a member of the Democratic Caucus' Seniors Task Force, Bill is committed to protecting those benefits our seniors rely on, and is working to make sure their voices are heard.

Instead of voting for the majority budget that would have increased healthcare costs to seniors by $6,000, Bill supports strengthening Medicare to ensure that today's seniors and the seniors of tomorrow have access to this vital, earned benefit. Instituting healthcare vouchers or coupons -- instead of the Medicare guarantee -- is a violation of the promise that we have made to America's seniors. Reliance on the whims of health insurance companies is irresponsible and unwise, and Bill is fighting to make sure that the little stability our seniors have left is not taken away from them.

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