This week, The Senior Citizens League was pleased to see support grow for two key bills that would strengthen the Social Security and Medicare programs if adopted. In addition, lawmakers returned to their home states and districts on Friday, and many will hold town hall meetings in the days ahead.
Key Bills Gain Support in Congress
This week, The Senior Citizens League was pleased to see support grow for two important bills that would strengthen the Social Security and Medicare programs if signed into law.
First, three new cosponsors signed on to the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 141), bringing the total up to 172. The new cosponsors are Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-2), Ed Perlmutter (CO-7), and Steve Scalise (LA-1).
This bipartisan bill, if adopted, would make the Social Security program more equitable by repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These two provisions of law unfairly cut the Social Security benefits of millions of teachers, police officers, and other state or local government employees, often by 40 percent or more. By repealing both provisions, the Social Security Fairness Act would ensure that public servants receive the Social Security benefits they have earned and deserve.
In addition, four new cosponsors signed on to the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act (H.R. 275), bringing the total up to thirty. The new cosponsors are Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-5), Angie Craig (MN-2), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), and Elissa Slotkin (MI-8).
If adopted, this bipartisan bill would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate lower prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare Part D beneficiaries. Under current law, the government negotiates prescription drug prices for Medicaid and for veterans, but is barred from doing so for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. As a result, senior citizens enrolled in Part D often pay much higher prices for their prescriptions than other Americans. The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, if adopted, would go a long way in reducing out-of-pocket costs for seniors.
The Senior Citizens League was pleased to see support grow for these two bills this week, and we thank the new cosponsors for their support. In the months ahead, we will continue to advocate for the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act and the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, and we urge Congress to enact them this year.
For progress updates or for more information about these and other bills that would strengthen the Social Security and Medicare programs, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website or follow TSCL on Twitter.
Congress Adjourns for Memorial Day Recess
On Friday, lawmakers in the House and Senate returned to their home states and districts for a week-long recess. They are expected to return to Capitol Hill on Monday, June 3rd. Until then, many Members of Congress will be hosting town hall meetings and attending events in their home states and districts.
The Senior Citizens League encourages its supporters to attend these events and to ask important questions of their elected officials, like the following four…
- Legislation before the House and Senate would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) so that public servants receive the Social Security benefits they have earned and deserve. Will you cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 521, H.R. 141) when you return to Washington?
- The government negotiates prescription drug prices for veterans and Medicaid beneficiaries, but it is barred from negotiating lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. As a result, seniors enrolled in Part D often pay much higher prices than other Americans for their prescription drugs. What are you doing to correct this unfair policy?
- Under current law, the Medicare program excludes coverage of most routine and emergency dental care, leaving around 70 percent of seniors without comprehensive dental insurance coverage. Will you support the Medicare Dental Benefit Act (S. 22) to ensure that seniors have access to essential health care?
- The Senior Citizens League is predicting another record-low Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2020 despite skyrocketing prescription drug prices and home heating costs. Will you cosponsor the Fair COLA for Seniors Act (H.R. 1553), which would make the COLA more adequate for Social Security beneficiaries?
For information about town hall meetings near you during the Memorial Day recess, call the local offices of your elected officials. You can find contact information for your Members of Congress right here.
