Social Security and Medicare

Social Security provides financial security to those in retirement, living with a disability, or grieving a loved one. This invaluable program delivers critical benefits to over 90,000 recipients in our district, and keeps 22.5 million Americans across the country out of poverty. I will always fight to protect Social Security--no matter who holds office.  

Programs like Medicare and Medicaid are essential lifelines that millions of Americans rely on, and I absolutely oppose any efforts to cut funding or impose restrictions that would limit care. 

While Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans try to take these benefits away, I am committed to ensuring that you receive the benefits and care you need, deserve, and is rightfully yours. 

As someone who grew up without health insurance and whose family nearly went bankrupt due to pneumonia I had as a kid, I understand firsthand why healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. That is why I am a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus, leading the fight to ensure no one is forced to delay care or suffer because they cannot afford treatment. I also strongly support the Medicare for All Act, which creates a single-payer system that guarantees healthcare for all, regardless of income or employment status, while eliminating copays and premiums. 

In addition to defending these programs, I’ve introduced legislation to strengthen and expand access to social security and healthcare: 

• The Social Security 2100 Act: Increases benefits, improves the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), so it reflects the inflation experienced by seniors; and ensure no one retires into poverty after a full career of work by improving benefits for long-serving, low-wage workers. 

• The Choose Medicare Act: Expands Medicare by creating Medicare Part E, available to every individual and business regardless of income. This program provides a new pathway to access our nation’s most popular and efficient health insurance system. 

• The Language Access for Medicare Beneficiaries Act: Ensures Medicare resources are available in languages beyond English and Spanish, improving equity and access for diverse communities. 

I also worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law in 2024. The Social Security Fairness Act fully repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), unfair policies that reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of retired public servants. Repealing the WEP and GPO ensures that these retired workers, including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other government employees, receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve.  

Furthermore, I was proud to support the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which reduces prescription drug and healthcare costs for American families. Thanks to this law: 

• Seniors on Medicare will have their out-of-pocket expenses capped at $2,000 a year. 

• Insulin costs are capped at $35 a month. 

• Medicare can now negotiate lower prescription drug prices, a policy Democrats have fought for years to achieve. 

When it comes to retirement and healthcare, no one should fall through the cracks. I will not stop fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and an equitable healthcare system for all Americans. 

If you are having a problem with Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid that you have not been able to resolve on your own, please contact my office for assistance. My casework team is ready to help you navigate the process and ensure you receive the care you need.