Legislative Update for Week Ending July 7, 2017

Legislative Update for Week Ending July 7, 2017

This week, Members of Congress remained in their home states and districts for the week-long holiday recess. In the days ahead, many will be hosting town hall meetings to discuss important legislative issues with constituents.

Congress Adjourns for Holiday Recess

This week, lawmakers in the House and Senate remained in their home states and districts for the week-long Independence Day holiday recess. They are expected to return to Capitol Hill on Monday, July 10th.

Those in the Senate will resume work next week on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which will have a significant impact on the health and financial security of older Americans if adopted. If Republican leaders in the Senate successfully negotiate a compromise with the most conservative and moderate members of the party, the BCRA could be signed into law before the end of this month.

In the final days of the holiday recess, many Members of Congress will be holding town hall meetings and attending local events in their home states and districts. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) encourages its members and supporters to attend these events and to ask important questions about the BCRA and its potential impact on older Americans, like the following two…

• Around 20% of Medicare beneficiaries are also enrolled in Medicaid and receive help from the program to cover long-term nursing home stays. The BCRA would cut Medicaid by more than $800 billion and cap federal spending on the program. How will you ensure access to nursing home care if the BCRA is adopted, and can you guarantee that older Americans will not be forced out of skilled nursing facilities due to funding cuts?
• If signed into law, the BCRA would create an immediate funding crisis for the Medicare Part A Trust Fund by eliminating a key revenue source and providing the wealthiest Americans with a massive tax cut. Do you support this move, and what efforts would you back to address the Medicare funding crisis?

For information on upcoming town hall meetings, click HERE. For updates on the progress of the BCRA in the coming days, follow TSCL on Twitter or visit the Legislative News section of our website.

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