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Seniors & Retirement
I understand that security in retirement is one of our most fundamental values as Americans. After a lifetime of hard work and paying taxes, seniors deserve the dignity of a secure retirement - reliable health care, affordable housing and prescription drugs, secure pensions, and a strong Social Security and Medicare. I believe every senior should be able to look forward to their golden years with optimism. Affordable Housing for Seniors - As your Representative, I will seek additional funding to expand the supply of affordable senior housing. I will also protect seniors by working to put a stop to predatory home lending practices, and seek to ensure that more seniors can obtain reverse mortgages to draw upon the equity they have in their homes if needed to meet the daily costs of living healthy, secure and independent lives. Strengthening and Securing Social Security - Seventy years after it was created by FDR, Social Security still provides the majority of retirement income for most American workers. I will ensure that Social Security is strong not only for this generation of seniors, but for generations to come. I will act to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency now - not by privatizing it, but by supporting legislative measures to get our fiscal house in order. Social Security provides a guaranteed standard of living that gives millions of Americans peace of mind as they look towards their retirement. I will never risk this security through private accounts. Driving Down Prescription Drug Costs - Too often, even when older Americans can afford their doctors visits, they can't afford their prescriptions. I will support legislation to ensure that all seniors have access to affordable prescription drugs. As your Representative, I will support requiring Medicare to harness its tremendous purchasing power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for its beneficiaries. In addition, I support the elimination of the so-called "doughnut hole" in Medicare Part D drug plans to ensure that seniors have adequate, continuous prescription drug coverage year round, and I support legalization of the importation of safe prescription drugs from countries like Canada. Strengthening and Securing Medicare - One of the twin pillars of retirement security in America, Medicare guarantees access to affordable health care for those over 65. I will maintain America's commitment to this historic program and work to strengthen it by supporting legislation to ensure that visits to the doctor and prescription drugs are affordable. I will push to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drugs and eliminating the so-called "doughnut hole" in Medicare Part D to ensure coverage all year round will be cornerstones of Medicare reform. In addition, I will work to ensure that Medicare rules are modified so that seniors are allowed to age in place while receiving the care and services that they need. Caring for the Caregivers - Recognizing that there is an entire generation taking care of their elderly parents, I would advance legislation to provide at least 8 weeks of paid benefits for people who take family and medical leave for reasons currently allowed under the Family and Medical Leave Act, including the care of a sick parent. Costs must be shared by employees, employers, and the federal government through contributions to a federal fund. Such a financing structure should allow paid family medical leave to pay for itself with little cost to the federal government and taxpayers. Employers should pay leave benefits to employees through their regular payroll, with prompt reimbursement from the federal fund. Benefits should be tiered based on wages. |
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