Seniors

There was a time not too long ago when American seniors were too often forced to go without food, medicine, and quality healthcare. But thanks to transformative programs like Social Security and Medicare, most seniors in this country are provided the opportunity to live with the stability and peace of mind they have earned and deserve. Still, we must continue to fight against efforts to undermine the federal programs that provide this critical safety net.

 

In 2016, I was proud to support the reauthorization of the bipartisan Older Americans Act, which for decades has been vital to America’s seniors, helping to fund critical services that keep older Americans healthy and independent like meal assistance, job training, senior centers, caregiver support, transportation, health promotion, and benefits enrollment programs. Each year, I host the Fifth District Senior Fair that brings together government and community organizations that offer resources and programs to seniors in my district. I have made the fight to improve Medicare and Social Security a top priority so we can ensure their financial viability for generations to come. As a cosponsor of both the Social Security Fairness Act and the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act, I am always working to better the lives of our seniors. I was proud to author the Transit Accessibility Innovation Act, which provides increased funding to make public transit more accessible and user-friendly to seniors. I’ve also used my position as a Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to create the LGBT Aging Issues Task Force that advocates for legislative and administrative action to protect the dignity and security of elderly LGBT people. And as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ve been proud to support funding to improve seniors’ housing, nutrition, employment and elder abuse prevention. 

 

We owe it to America’s seniors, and future generations, to ensure the solvency of our entitlement programs. We all must work to allow seniors the opportunity to live out their retirement with dignity and I’m committed to continuing that fight in Congress.