Seniors
Despite our nation’s serious budget crisis, David believes protecting Social Security and Medicare recipients from any cuts in benefits remains a top priority, because Congress must not balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. A member of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, David has visited senior centers and meal sites from Woonsocket to Tiverton, where he has met with hundreds of men and women who have worked hard their entire lives, played by the rules, and expect their government to keep the promises it made to them. Since beginning his work in Congress, David has listened to Rhode Island seniors who want the federal government to ensure their children and grandchildren have good work opportunities, access to affordable education, and safe and affordable housing and transportation, while at the same time protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and programs that keep prices for prescription medicine and long-term care within reach.
Despite our nation’s serious budget crisis, David believes protecting Social Security and Medicare recipients from any cuts in benefits remains a top priority, because Congress must not balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. A member of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, David has visited senior centers and meal sites from Woonsocket to Tiverton, where he has met with hundreds of men and women who have worked hard their entire lives, played by the rules, and expect their government to keep the promises it made to them. Since beginning his work in Congress, David has listened to Rhode Island seniors who want the federal government to ensure their children and grandchildren have good work opportunities, access to affordable education, and safe and affordable housing and transportation, while at the same time protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and programs that keep prices for prescription medicine and long-term care within reach.
In April of last year, David voted against the so-called “Ryan Plan” – a budget proposal that would have ended the guaranteed Medicare benefit package and instead forced seniors to purchase insurance on the private market while driving up health care costs across the board. David has been a vocal opponent of such dangerous plans, because Rhode Island’s 150,000 seniors should not be forced to pay more for their health care and get less while tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires remain untouched.
David has continued to be a forceful advocate for Rhode Island’s seniors, urging leadership in Congress to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits during negotiations over our nation’s spending. In addition, he has co-sponsored the Preserving Our Promise to Seniors Act, legislation that would strengthen the finances of the Social Security Trust Fund and improve how cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are determined by using a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) that more accurately tracks changes in the cost of goods and services purchased by seniors. David has also co-sponsored the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, legislation that would authorize the Health and Human Services Secretary to negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers the prices of prescription drugs for beneficiaries of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage, which could save taxpayers billions of dollars while also reducing drug prices for seniors.
In August of 2011, the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans presented David with the Social Security and Medicare Hero’s Award, thanking him for his work to protect senior services and standing up in Congress for issues important to seniors.