Seniors worked hard to raise the younger generations, and I am adamant about supporting their needs. I am working hard to strengthen Medicare, protect Social Security, and advocate for other critical resources like nutrition assistance for seniors in Northwest Washington and across the country.

Strengthening Social Security

Social Security must remain a safety net that covers all our seniors. Washington state seniors have spent a lifetime contributing to Social Security. They are entitled to the benefits they have earned. For that reason, I oppose the privatization of Social Security. While Social Security is fiscally sound for the near future, the retirement of the baby boom generation will strain it. We owe it to future generations to keep Social Security solvent and not take unnecessary risks with it. That is why I support a proposal to make the benefit formula more generous, use a cost-of-living formula that considers the expense of seniors’ purchases, and preserve Social Security for the future by scrapping the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes.

Improving Medicare for Seniors

Tens of thousands of seniors in Northwest Washington depend on Medicare as their only source of health coverage. I believe that Medicare beneficiaries deserve the best treatments possible. To that end, I supported measures in the ACA that strengthen Medicare and improve its long-term viability, like closing the Medicare prescription drug donut hole. Medicare beneficiaries in Washington state have saved $95 million on prescription drugs since the ACA was enacted. I also support cracking down on Medicare fraud, which helps keep Medicare sustainable and returns taxpayer dollars to their rightful purpose.

I am working hard to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid are protected for future generations.

Accomplishments

• Voted to repeal the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, which caused uncertainty for seniors and their doctors.
• Voted to keep Medicare a guaranteed benefit,  fighting against the Republican proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher system.
• Supported the Medicare fraud task force, which gets a 610 percent return on taxpayer investment, returning $6.10 for every $1 invested in fraud prevention and recovery.
• Supported deficit reduction that limits government spending growth, protects our social safety net for seniors, and expands revenue collection, particularly from the richest Americans and large corporations.
• Fighting against proposals to privatize Social Security.
• Supported Social Security benefits for same-sex couples, ensuring all Americans have access to the benefits they have earned.
• Supported funding for senior nutrition and employment programs to address the rapidly growing aging population.