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SENATOR SARBANES’ RECORD
ON ISSUES Senator Sarbanes recognizes the countless sacrifices and contributions made by seniors throughout their lifetimes to enable this Nation to remain a world leader and to make significant advances in many areas of American life. He understands that older Americans bring experience, insight, and wisdom, which is invaluable to the discussion of almost any issues we, as a Nation, face. Senator Sarbanes has been a longtime and vigorous advocate of proposals in the Congress, which will ensure seniors are able to live in dignity and independence during their retirement years, and looks forward to continuing to work with Maryland's seniors to resolve the problems facing us today. His record on issues of concern to older Americans is set forth below. SOCIAL SECURITY Senator Sarbanes views the Social Security program as one of our Nation's greatest achievements and has actively supported proposals in the Congress to ensure the program's long-term health and integrity. For more than 60 years, Social Security has provided our senior citizens with a means of support in retirement after a lifetime of hard work. Senator Sarbanes believes that we must honor our commitment of ensuring that seniors who count on Social Security receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. In 2001, Congress and the President were presented with an historic opportunity that would have allowed for paying down the Nation’s debt, investing in our Nation’s future and shoring up vital programs. However, enactment of an excessive tax cut, the slowing economy, the events of September 11, and the war in Iraq have evaporated the Nation’s surplus and contributed to a deficit that approaches half a trillion dollars. The massive tax cut alone, which Senator Sarbanes opposed in favor of a more reasonable alternative, consumed almost half of the then projected surplus. Despite the challenges presented by changed fiscal circumstances, Senator Sarbanes will maintain his strong commitment to preserving the Social Security program for our senior citizens whose hard work and dedication built the foundation for the economic security we enjoy today. Senator Sarbanes strongly opposes altering the fundamental social insurance
nature of the current system. The President’s Commission to Strengthen
Social Security has proposed various plans that would allow workers to
invest in the stock market or private investment accounts similar to 401(k)
plans. Each plan offered by the Commission would reduce scheduled, guaranteed
Social Security benefits. In Senator Sarbanes’ view, the strength
of the Social Security system is the guaranteed benefit concept. Linking
the payment of Social Security benefits with fluctuations in the stock
market would be irresponsible and jeopardize the retirement of our senior
citizens who rely on Social Security as their only source of income. During the 108th Congress, Senator Sarbanes cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Mikulski – the Social Security Family Protection Act. This bill would address the problem many families face under existing law in which Social Security does not pay benefits for the last month of life. If a Social Security retiree dies on the 18th of the month or even on the 30th of the month, the surviving spouse or family members must send back the Social Security check for that month. This causes unnecessary additional financial and emotional distress for many survivors as they cope with the loss of a loved one. This bill would discontinue this practice and provide full or partial Social Security benefits for the month of a recipient’s death. Senator Sarbanes is also a cosponsor of legislation that would modify the application of the Windfall Elimination Provision. This provision reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. The legislation Senator Sarbanes has cosponsored would restrict the application of the Windfall Elimination Provision to those whose monthly Social Security benefits and non-Social Security-covered pension combined exceed $2,000. MEDICARE & PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Senator Sarbanes recognizes that the Federal government must maintain its commitment to ensuring quality health care for all seniors. He is concerned that while Medicare plays a vital role in providing health services for more than 37 million senior and disabled Americans, the program’s current benefit structure and provider payments fail to adequately respond to today’s health care needs. Senator Sarbanes strongly supports efforts to reform Medicare in a responsible manner, one that strengthens and protects the Medicare program while guaranteeing that it will remain a viable source of health care services for our Nation's seniors. Toward this end, he has consistently worked to ensure that Medicare providers are adequately reimbursed so that beneficiaries have access to the health care services that they require. Most recently, Senator Sarbanes has supported updating the Medicare physician payment schedule and eliminating or decreasing proposed reductions in the payment rates for home health providers, nursing homes, and hospitals. In addition, Senator Sarbanes opposes caps on rehabilitation services for beneficiaries and increases in copayments for Medicare services such as home health care. Senator Sarbanes has actively supported legislation that will provide benefits of new scientific advances to Medicare recipients. He has cosponsored legislation that expands Medicare coverage of oral cancer drugs. Allowing such coverage will permit Medicare patients to benefit from oral medications that are often more convenient and have fewer side effects than intravenous drugs. In addition, Senator Sarbanes cosponsored legislation requiring Medicare to cover self-injected biologics that have greatly benefited many arthritis sufferers. Senator Sarbanes recognizes that an integral component of today’s medical treatment is access to affordable prescription drugs. He is disappointed that legislation enacted in 2003 failed to provide a comprehensive and affordable prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries. Senator Sarbanes voted against the prescription drug proposal and the conference report when it came before the Senate because, in his view, the legislation provides inadequate coverage while at the same time undermines Medicare, a program that has served our seniors for over 37 years. Senator Sarbanes is particularly concerned that the law could cause many retirees – up to 2.7 million – to lose existing employer-sponsored prescription drug coverage. The new coverage plan will effectively force Medicare beneficiaries to rely on managed care organizations in order to receive substantial prescription drug benefits. Due to historical trends of Medicare managed care plans withdrawing from the Medicare program and leaving beneficiaries each year, he believes it is unwise to rely heavily on their participation to implement the new prescription drug benefit. In addition, he is troubled by the uncertainty of the plan’s monthly premiums, its great complexity, and its incomplete coverage. The Senator will continue to work toward making the new drug benefit one that America’s seniors deserve and will support efforts to lower the costs of drugs for all Americans. Specifically, Senator Sarbanes has cosponsored the “Medical Drug Price Reduction Act,” that would grant the Federal Government the authority to negotiate prices with manufacturers to ensure that seniors have access to cheaper drugs. In addition, Senator Sarbanes cosponsored the bipartisan “Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2004,” that would permit the “safe re-importation” of drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, another measure aimed at reducing prescription drug costs for seniors. Senator Sarbanes believes that the safety and integrity of drugs supplied by Canada are absolutely critical, but with the appropriate resources and protocol, safe reimportation can enhance access and reduce costs for seniors. The current Medicare law allows re-importation of a drug only if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can certify it as safe. HHS has refused thus far to certify the safety of any drugs imported from other countries, thus effectively barring re-importation. On a related matter, Senator Sarbanes has voiced concern over reports that an Administration official had been asked to suppress the true cost of the prescription drug legislation to the tune of almost $150 billion over the next 10 years. The Administration had initially estimated the cost to be $395 billion, but estimates are now approximately $537 billion. With these more realistic figures, reports show that the Medicare Trust Fund could become insolvent by the year 2019, seven years sooner than was predicted just last year. Senator Sarbanes has expressed concern that many of these added costs, instead of benefiting our seniors, are targeted to benefit insurance companies. Senator Sarbanes will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the prescription drug benefit legislation and seek to correct any other significant pitfalls that may arise. MEDICAID Senator Sarbanes has actively supported legislative efforts to help States as they struggle to provide long-term, home health and nursing home care to the elderly through the Medicaid program. He has cosponsored legislation, S. 971, that would provide enhanced Federal funding for States that promote community based attendant services. Measures he has supported would temporarily increase the Federal matching rate that the Federal government provides to States for Medicaid, commonly referred to as FMAP, as they work through a weakened economy. He is a cosponsor of S. 138, legislation that would temporarily increase the FMAP. Senator Sarbanes opposes proposals to block grant the Medicaid program. Senator Sarbanes’ view is that cutting Federal funding for Medicaid, a program that provides essential health coverage to 47 million low-income children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities, would add millions more to the growing numbers of uninsured Americans. He joined with a majority of his colleagues in the Senate in writing the Senate Budget Committee, expressing strong opposition to the inclusion of any Medicaid cuts in the final budget resolution. OLDER AMERICANS ACT Senator Sarbanes is a strong supporter and cosponsor of the Older Americans Act (OAA), which articulates a comprehensive set of services designed to meet the diverse needs of older persons. He understands that these programs are critical for the health and well-being of millions of seniors in Maryland and throughout the country, and has fought hard to ensure that all senior employment, volunteer, transportation and nutrition programs receive critical Federal support. Citing the success of the Older Americans Act in the organization and delivery of support services for senior citizens, Senator Sarbanes believes strongly that these programs should be preserved and protected. Recognizing that many Americans require extensive in-home care in their later years, Senator Sarbanes is a strong supporter of the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This important program was established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) to provide respite care, information and assistance, and caregiver counseling to caregivers and their families. In his view, this program has been successful in the organization and delivery of essential support services to caregivers and their families, particularly those with the greatest economic and social need. Toward this end, he has joined his colleagues in requesting an increase in Federal funding for this valuable program. In addition, Senator Sarbanes strongly supports legislation that would establish a tax credit of up to $5,000 to help pay the expenses of families who care for loved ones with chronic care needs. This would greatly relieve the financial stress for the estimated 5.2 million seniors who receive some assistance in the home because of disability limitations. HOUSING & ENERGY ASSISTANCE Throughout his career, Senator Sarbanes has actively supported numerous Federal programs that help provide decent, affordable housing for seniors. Such programs include low-interest loans for non-profit elderly housing providers and mortgage insurance for nursing homes and other housing for the elderly. Senator Sarbanes has been a strong and consistent supporter of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists eligible seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families with small children to adequately heat and cool their homes. For many people, the cost of home heating or cooling is prohibitive. They are often forced to choose between paying for heat or paying for other vital necessities such as food, water, or shelter. Most recently, Senator Sarbanes supported provisions in a Senate spending measure for Fiscal Year 2004 that would fund the program at a level of $2 billion -- the highest amount the program has received since 1982. In his view, these funds would make a significant difference in restoring assistance to our Nation's families and communities, especially during times of economic hardship. Senator Sarbanes will continue to fight to ensure that the LIHEAP program remains available to those who need it.
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