Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

Older Americans face serious challenges, especially with health and financial security. And with the baby boomer generation entering retirement and higher life expectancies, our nation will face serious challenges caring for a growing elderly population. In 2017, the United States had 47.8 million Americans age 65 and older. By 2060, this number will more than double to 98 million.

We have a responsibility to ensure that people can live out their old age safely, comfortably, and with dignity. Congress needs to ensure that we are adequately prepared to do this. Here is what I propose:

Social Security

Social Security is one of the most successful programs in American history. It's estimated that the program keeps 22 million Americans from living in poverty, including 190,000 Marylanders.

The program will face challenges as our population continues to age. The number of workers per retiree is declining. At the outset of the decade there were about 3 workers per retiree. It's estimated that by 2030 there will only be 2 workers per retiree. And if no action is taken, there will not be sufficient funds to pay out full Social Security by 2034.

To fix the funding, we should increase the cap on taxable wages. Currently, Americans with higher incomes only pay payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare on the first $128,400 of their income. Raising the cap will help make Social Security solvent for the next generation.

We also need to find a way to dedicate a portion of federal capital gains taxes to Social Security. Many wealthy people make their income largely or entirely from capital gains. Not only are capital gains taxed at a lower rate than income, but this income is not subject to the payroll tax. We should fix this to ensure that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.

I also support increasing benefits for those who need it most. The current benefit structure works well overall, but it fails certain vulnerable populations, particularly widowed women. The poverty rate for widowed women 65 and older is 90% higher than for other senior populations because of the sharp decrease in benefits when a spouse passes away.

Finally, Social Security should take into account the importance of caregivers. Many people take time away from the workforce to act as a full-time caregiver for a family member. Because of years lost in the workforce, they lose Social Security benefits upon retirement. This especially impacts women, who disproportionately act as caregivers. Let's recognize the vital role that caregivers play and change the benefits formula to take their work into account.

Medicare

Like Social Security, Medicare faces long-term solvency challenges as well. By 2029 Medicare will no-longer be able to pay out full hospital benefits if no changes are made.

Making the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes will help with Medicare's solvency issues. But to ensure that the program remains viable long-term, we need to address costs as well. The United States spends more per capita on healthcare than anywhere else in the world, but we don't achieve better health outcomes.

The Affordable Care Act was a good step in the right direction. Not only have millions of Americans received health coverage, but the law's cost-saving measures have been effective. The Medicare hospital insurance trust fund is now projected to remain solvent 11 years longer than it was before the ACA was enacted. We need to continue building on the progress we've made with the ACA and continue to reduce the cost of healthcare.

Prescription drugs are one area where we could find substantial savings. Allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices would save billions every year. Unfortunately, Congress has not allowed this because they are in the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry.

From 1998 to 2018 the pharmaceutical industry gave almost $4 billion in federal contributions, more than any other industry in the country. I have pledged not to take any money from the pharmaceutical industry or any other PACs or lobbyists. I don't want to be their Congressman, I want to be yours.

Medical Research

My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and passed away from the disease in 2011. It was devastating to watch him slowly lose his memory to the point where he could no longer remember my name. Too many people have had to watch their loved ones suffer from this devastating condition.

Currently, the nation spends $226 billion per year caring for people with Alzheimer's and that cost could rise to $1.1 trillion by 2050. But the NIH spent less than $1.5 billion in 2017 researching the disease. Finding a cure for Alzheimer's will save lives, and it will save money in the long run.

Over the last 20 years, we've spent a small fraction of what we should on dementia research; it's only now beginning to catch up. If we are going to find a cure for dementia, we have to better understand it.

That's why I propose doubling the budget for the NIH. Not only will it save us money in the long run, it will save lives.

Fraud Prevention

Seniors are increasingly becoming targets of scammers looking to target their retirement savings. It's estimated that $37 billion is stolen from seniors every year. We need to do more to ensure that people are protected.

I support the bi-partisan Senior Fraud Prevention Act. This bill would establish an office within the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection to monitor for fraud targeting seniors and provide leads to law enforcement to help them crack down on scammers.

I also oppose Republican attempts to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The agency plays an important role in educating seniors on how to protect themselves from fraud.

Investing in the Next Generation

When I talk with seniors on the campaign trail, they overwhelmingly tell me that they are concerned about making sure their children and grandchildren have opportunities. This is particularly a concern in Western Maryland, where too often young people have to move to find jobs or go to school.

In Congress, I will fight to ensure that people can have these opportunities while remaining close to their families if they want to do so. That's why I support expanding skilled trade and apprenticeship opportunities for high school students. Students who have these opportunities can be ready for the job market upon graduation.

I also support free community college. Garrett County has had free community college for years, and their program has helped spur economic growth in the county. There's no reason we can't make this available to every American.

We also need fairer tax incentives targeted toward small businesses. Rather than just handouts to the largest corporations, tax breaks for small businesses can help bring new jobs to the district. Last year a biotetch startup called Ibex Bio Sciences opened in Cumberland in part because of Maryland's Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit. In Congress, I'll support federal incentives like this for businesses to locate in less traditional areas.

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