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.
More on Seniors
Before the Supreme Court's ruling in Gross v. FBL Financial Services Inc., older workers alleging age discrimination in the workplace had to prove that age was simply one of the motivating factors behind the discrimination. This is the same burden of proof faced by those alleging discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin or religion.
School-age children are often taught the phrase "caring is sharing." But caring is so much more. It is essential to our individual well-being. And it is vital infrastructure to our communities' economy.
WASHINGTON— Today, Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) reintroduced the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act. Over 8 million Americans, all of them over the age of 65 or with significant disabilities, rely on SSI benefits to meet their basic needs. Currently, SSI benefits provide an average income that is below the poverty line. With the program being largely unchanged since its inception in 1972, the SSI Restoration Act makes critical updates to keep beneficiaries out of poverty.
EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced the projects in her district for which she has submitted funding requests. Earlier this year, Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro announced that the annual funding process would once again allow Members of Congress to request funding for specific projects.
EVANSTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, announced her virtual guest for President Joe Biden's first speech to a joint session of Congress.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Budget Committee, voted to pass President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act, which was approved in the House of Representatives by a vote of 220-211.
WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a Co-chair of the House Democratic Task Force on Aging and Families, led a letter from the Task Force to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and Social Security Administration Commissioner Andrew Saul. The letter highlights the problems many Seniors have faced in accessing their Economic Impact Payments issued as part of the CARES Act passed by Congress last March.
The letter reads in part:
H.R. 1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
An Urgently-Needed Package to Address The Coronavirus Health & Economic Crisis
Passed House of Representatives February 27, 2021
Amended and Passed by the Senate on March 6, 2021
Senate Changes Passed by House on March 10, 2021
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1319, President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act, by a vote of 219-210:
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed S. Con. Res. 5, a budget resolution that lays the groundwork for passing President Biden's American Rescue Plan: