Seniors

Legislation would undo military retiree benefit cuts included in the Bipartisan Budget Act

A government shutdown is deeply harmful for our country, seriously disrupting essential government services and knocking our economy down at a time when we should be building it up. Instead of listening to Republican Senators and Governors, conservative newspapers, and business groups, House House Republican Leadership has thus far decided to listen to the Tea Party faction in Congress, which is dedicated to and even celebrating a government shutdown.

The bill would eliminate food assistance for one in five veterans and hundreds of thousands of seniors, disabled people, and low-income working Americans. At a time when so many Americans are struggling to get by, these draconian cuts would plunge even more people into extreme poverty.

Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, Californians with Medicare have saved $574 million on prescription drugs. In 2012 alone, 299,896 California residents saved over $184 million or an average of $609 per enrollee. Furthermore, in 2012 alone, 2,153,101 Californians with traditional Medicare saved money by using one or more free preventative services.

The relaunch of HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov and the toll-free call center 1-800-318-2596 will help Americans who are looking for health coverage prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for private health insurance.

During Q&A, Garamendi said "Hands off Social Security & Medicare benefits." Service providers from Medicare, Meals-on-Wheels, the Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank, the Federal Trade Commission, & other agencies were on hand to help seniors

Ending preventable flight delays is good, but Congress also needs to prevent the draconian cuts to our nation’s defense, research, Head Start, and children’s health care that are already causing alarm among families in my district.

This budget provides a balanced path that strengthens our economy while responsibly reducing the deficit. There is much to admire in this plan, but I have deep reservations about the proposed change in Social Security policy.