Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

Growing up in a multigenerational household, Mazie knows firsthand the importance of respecting and caring for our kupuna. She has carried those values with her to the Senate, where she's worked to make sure we keep the promises we've made to our seniors.

Mazie knows that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are a lifeline for millions of seniors in Hawaii and across the country. She has fought against every attempt to privatize, voucherize, or place a cap on funding for Medicare and has spoken out against Republican efforts to use the program as a political pawn.

In the Senate, she pushed back against Republican attempts to balance the budget on the backs of our kupuna by gutting Social Security. At a time when too many seniors are struggling to make ends meet, Mazie is fighting to expand Social Security, introducing legislation like the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which would "scrap the cap" and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share to keep Social Security strong for all. Her bill would also extend the life of Social Security and ensure our seniors' incomes stay ahead of rising costs.

Like many in Hawaii who are caregivers for elderly parents or grandparents, Mazie understands from firsthand experience that it is critical that our kupuna have access to the prescription medicine and care that they need. She supports legislation to lower skyrocketing drug costs for seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D, and introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to shingles vaccinations.

She was proud to co-sponsor the Older Americans Act Reauthorization of 2016 -- signed into law by President Obama -- which renewed and expanded critical federal programs that provided nutrition assistance; caregiver support; senior centers; transportation; and other resources that help seniors. She has also fought against the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service, which funds the Senior Corps program to give seniors in Hawaii and nationwide the opportunity to continue to serve their communities.

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