Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

Year after year, Rosa has been successful in fighting for the interests of seniors. The current fiscal year budget includes billions of dollars for programs to increase nutrition and supportive services for seniors, and to pursue biomedical research relating to health issues affecting seniors. Rosa believes that we must protect the programs that provide necessary services for Connecticut's senior citizens. She has pushed for cost-of-living increases to Social Security so that seniors receive the benefits they desperately need to pay increasing food, heating and medical costs. Rosa cosponsored legislation to provide financial support to seniors to fill the gap in Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in this difficult economy. In addition, she has called for policies that increase private retirement savings through opt-out workplace pension plans and pressuring companies to honor their pension obligations.

Rosa understands the difficulty that seniors and their families face in paying for necessary medical care. She was so proud to be able to vote for a comprehensive health reform package that does so much for seniors, including closing the "donut hole" in prescription drug coverage to ensure that seniors do not have to worry about affording essential medications.

Rosa has also been instrumental in securing reductions in energy prices that directly benefit our seniors. Through her work on the appropriations committee, Rosa was able to help double the funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps many seniors to keep the heat on in the winter and provide cooling during the hottest summer months. Rosa is proud that, because of this program, thousands of Connecticut seniors will not have to make the impossible choice between food and heat each winter.

Year after year, Rosa has been successful in fighting for the interests of seniors. The current fiscal year budget includes billions of dollars for programs to increase nutrition and supportive services for seniors, and to pursue biomedical research relating to health issues affecting seniors. Rosa believes that we must protect the programs that provide necessary services for Connecticut's senior citizens. She has pushed for cost-of-living increases to Social Security so that seniors receive the benefits they desperately need to pay increasing food, heating and medical costs. Rosa cosponsored legislation to provide financial support to seniors to fill the gap in Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in this difficult economy. In addition, she has called for policies that increase private retirement savings through opt-out workplace pension plans and pressuring companies to honor their pension obligations.

Rosa understands the difficulty that seniors and their families face in paying for necessary medical care. She was so proud to be able to vote for a comprehensive health reform package that does so much for seniors, including closing the "donut hole" in prescription drug coverage to ensure that seniors do not have to worry about affording essential medications.

Rosa has also been instrumental in securing reductions in energy prices that directly benefit our seniors. Through her work on the appropriations committee, Rosa was able to help double the funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps many seniors to keep the heat on in the winter and provide cooling during the hottest summer months. Rosa is proud that, because of this program, thousands of Connecticut seniors will not have to make the impossible choice between food and heat each winter.

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