Seniors
In this economy, with high gas prices and increasing food and health care costs, I well understand that many seniors, especially those on fixed incomes, are struggling to make ends meet. That’s why I have been adamant in protecting and strengthening the critical programs upon which seniors rely, helping to ensure the benefits for which they labored and rightly deserve.
I am and have been an ardent opponent of Social Security privatization. I believe strongly that seniors deserve the benefits they are owed after a lifetime of paying into Social Security and that those obligations must be honored. And that includes providing the funds necessary to administer the program and ensure that beneficiaries have access to the services they have earned.
I also believe that seniors should be able to count on their annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). In two of the last three years, seniors had to do without a COLA, as legislation I supported to compensate seniors was blocked in the Congress. That must not happen again and I have cosponsored legislation that would fix the flawed COLA formula to help ensure that seniors cannot be denied their annual COLA.
As well, I have been vocal and active in decrying efforts to end traditional Medicare, as well as other extreme budget proposals that would reduce health coverage and shift additional health costs to seniors. I am adamant in pressing to expand access to affordable quality health care in southern West Virginia, in pushing for lower costs for prescription drugs, and in ensuring a strong safety net so that retired seniors can live in dignity.
Throughout my years serving the people of southern West Virginia, I have consistently voted to protect Social Security and Medicare, and I will continue to do so.