In May, we celebrate Older Americans Month. This is a time to recognize the many contributions and achievements of older Americans in our communities. It is also a time to reflect on how we honor and care for our seniors, and rededicate ourselves to ensuring the health and well-being of aging Americans.

I was raised by my maternal grandparents in Wisconsin. I was lucky they were there for me when I needed them. At that time in their lives, still working at demanding jobs, my grandparents should have been enjoying their well-deserved leisure time. Instead, they made many sacrifices on my behalf.

As my grandmother grew older, our roles reversed. Helping my grandmother in her later years opened my eyes to the many challenges facing older Americans across our nation.

I was struck by the sheer volume of solicitations my grandmother was receiving. I was also shocked by how many fly-by-night and “look alike” charities wrote her monthly. I learned from that experience about the very real exploitation of seniors through mail, telephone, and Internet fraud.

The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) estimates that more than 38,000 seniors in Wisconsin were victims of financial exploitation in 2011. Fraud can have severe financial and emotional consequences for older Americans and their families.

I believe we should be doing more to combat these crimes and am proud to champion legislation in Congress to help protect seniors from financial scams. My legislation would help centralize consumer education and assist locally-focused mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud prevention and education programs for seniors.

Caring for my grandmother also let me see first-hand the importance of Medicare in her life. Because of Medicare, my Nana benefited from affordable, quality health care and wasn’t bankrupted by high medical costs.

There are millions of families saved from physical or financial ruin because of Medicare. Wherever I go in Wisconsin, I meet folks who passionately want to preserve Medicare as we know it, not just for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren.

I believe Medicare is a contract we make with our seniors that if you work hard, play by the rules, and contribute a fair share in your earning years, you will have medical care in your senior years. As a Member of Congress, I have strongly opposed any effort to break this contract and will not support measures like the Ryan Budget that would end Medicare as we know it for future generations of retirees.

There is much more we can and must do to protect vulnerable seniors from fraudsters, abusers, and those who would neglect them. Seniors who have contributed much and sacrificed much for their families, their communities, and our nation throughout their lives, deserve to feel safe, secure, and respected not just during Older Americans Month, but every day of the year.