Protecting and Strengthening Social Security

As a staunch advocate for enhancing and protecting Social Security, I firmly believe we must ensure our nation keeps its bedrock promise to our seniors – now, and for generations to come.

Nearly 100,000 seniors in our District rely on Social Security benefits to cover the cost of food, medicine and other necessities. Despite its rich history as a cornerstone of the New Deal and a long-time source of economic security for millions of hard-working Americans, Republicans in Congress are still pushing their agenda to privatize it, increase the retirement age, and cut back benefits. I have and will continue to defend seniors and people with disabilities against these partisan attacks and stand up for the lifesaving benefits they’ve earned.

I am proud to have earned a 100 percent rating from the National Committee to Protect and Preserve Social Security and Medicare for the 113th and 112th Congress.

Congress needs more members who make Social Security a priority. This year, there was no cost-of-living adjustment, resulting in devastating consequences for many seniors who saw significant increases in their daily expenses.

I have cosponsored several bills designed to address the cost of living adjustment issue, including some that would use the CPI-E index (designed to look at senior spending patterns, especially health care and prescription drug costs) to measure inflation.

  • H.R. 1811– Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act
  • H.R. 3351– CPI-E Act of 2015
  • H.R. 2365– Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2009

Social Security’s earned benefits are modest, with the average monthly retiree benefit in our district being $1,238 ($14,856 a year). We are facing a retirement income crisis, and the best way to solve it is by expanding social security benefits.

I have also cosponsored the following bills that would expand social security benefits:

  • H.R. 1391– The Social Security 2100 Act would improve benefits, adopt the CPI-E formula to determine cost-of-living increases, extend the life of the Social Security Trust Fund, and protect low income workers by setting the minimum benefit amount at 25% above the poverty line rather below it. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare noted that the bill includes “across-the-board increases for all beneficiaries.”
  • H.R. 3377– The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act, would provide Social Security credit for an individual providing care to a dependent relative.
  • H. Res. 393– A resolution to support policies to protect and expand Social Security and responsibly secure its long-term future.
  • H.R. 973– Social Security Fairness Act of 2015, expands social security benefits with respect to federal, state, or local government employees.
  • H.R.235 – Social Security Fairness Act of 2009, expands social security benefits with respect to federal, state, or local government employees.
  • H.R. 82– Social Security Fairness Act of 2007, expands social security benefits with respect to federal, state, or local government employees.
  • H.R. 147– Social Security Fairness Act of 2005, expands social security benefits with respect to federal, state, or local government employees.