Seniors
Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old. As the Co-Chair of the House Democrats Task Force on Aging and Families in the House of Representatives, I believe it is essential that we nurture a culture that respects older Americans and that protects the financial and health security that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid provide.
Older Americans have spent many years working to raise families, pay their taxes, protect our country and build our communities. They have the right to the benefits that they have earned and to know that they will have the resources they need in retirement. That is why I so strongly oppose efforts to privatize Social Security or reduce benefits, to turn Medicare over to private insurance companies and turn it into "vouchercare", or jeopardize access to long-term care services by cutting Medicaid and turning it into a block grant. We can ensure the longevity of these programs by making them more efficient. We do not need to cut benefits.
I am also committed to expanding access to the full range of long-term care services and supports, and helping seniors age in place within their own communities. We must build upon the Older Americans Act to meet those needs.
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Last week, President Biden announced he is pardoning all Americans who have been convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law. The executive order will benefit 6,500 people with federal convictions. The criminalization of marijuana and this nation's failed ‘War on Drugs' has devastated our communities of color. People of color are four times more likely to be arrested on cannabis charges – and are often targeted for longer prison sentences.
Republicans in Congress want to do away with Social Security. We must fight to protect this precious program. It's not a gift, it's something you've paid for with every paycheck. It's your money!
On Friday, Congress passed legislation to continue funding the government, avoiding a government shutdown. A shutdown would have sidelined federal services, such as anti-poverty food assistance and customer service functions at the Social Security Administration. The legislation contains $18.8 billion for domestic disaster recovery efforts, including Western wildfires, floods in Kentucky and hurricanes in the Southeast. For some reason, 201 House Republicans voted against this bill. They wanted to shut down the government, just as the federal response to Hurricane Ian is beginning.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky introduced legislation to help patients and government watchdogs evaluate the quality of private health insurance plans provided through Medicare. The Medicare Advantage Consumer Protection and Transparency Act, co-led by Representatives Katie Porter (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), improves data collection and holds insurers accountable for following the law.
My dear friend, Dr. Paul Farmer, transformed the lives of millions of marginalized people around the world, bringing them health care, justice, and dignity. To honor his vision for realizing global health equity, I, alongside my colleagues Reps. Barbara Lee and Raul Ruiz, introduced the Dr. Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution. This resolution lays out a 21st century global health strategy that proposes significantly increasing global health aid to $125 billion per year, reforming aid to focus on building national health systems, and putting an end to the exploitation of impoverished countries.
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Task Force on Aging & Families, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, led over 30 Members in responding to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Request for Information on the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.
Ahead of Labor Day, I was thrilled to welcome Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to Chicago to tout the Biden administration's efforts to help hardworking labor workers and retirees get the pension funds they deserve. The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year, created a Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program to avert the immediate multiemployer pension crisis threatening the retirement security of workers, retirees, and their families.
History was made in Washington this week when President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act. This law makes the largest-ever federal investment in addressing the threat of climate change, lowers prescription drug costs, and implements commonsense measures to make wealthy individuals and corporations finally pay their fair share in taxes. Furthermore, small businesses and families making under $400,000 will not have to pay a penny more in taxes.