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
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the Department of Justice’s emergency stay application in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, preventing a lower court decision from going into effect that would have put women’s health at risk and undermined FDA’s medical judgment. For now, Mifepristone, which is used in 54% of all abortions, remains safe, legal, and available. But let me make it clear – the battle is not over. I will continue to fight and advocate for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.
I want to tell you about two recent U.S. District Court rulings that I am following closely that have major implications for access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, released the following statement condemning the decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra blocking a requirement that health insurance plans cover a range of preventive health services without a copay:
Last week, I had the unique responsibility of questioning the CEO of TikTok when he came before the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is clear to me that in most ways, TikTok is like all the other Big Tech companies. They can use Americans’ data any way they want. Exclusively banning TikTok would be letting Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms off the hook and would leave our consumers and our children unprotected. We need a comprehensive data privacy bill.
Following the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, I know many of you are feeling uneasy. I want to assure you, there is a piece of legislation that I am cosponsoring, the Secure Viable Banking Act, that would help restore needed protections to safeguard our economy. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank can be traced back to harmful Trump-era regulatory rollbacks. I voted against those rollbacks in 2018 for exactly this reason. I will continue working to protect the safety and soundness of our financial system and help ensure those responsible for this crisis are held accountable.