Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

After a lifetime of work and raising families, Minnesota seniors deserve every penny of the Medicare and Social Security benefits they earned and were promised.

When it comes to Medicare, one of Pete's guiding principles is keeping the promises we made to our seniors. This year Medicare celebrated its 37th anniversary. Access to quality health care is vital for a long and healthy retirement. We must save Medicare to avoid disruptions in benefits for our current seniors and strengthen the program for future generations.

Social Security celebrated its 85th anniversary this year. Social Security provides critical benefits to tens of millions of Americans -- tens of thousands in Minnesota's 8th congressional district -- including widows and those with disabilities. This issue should be above politics. We need to preserve the Social Security safety net and make sure the program remains solvent for future generations.

In his first term in Congress, Pete never voted to cut Social Security or Medicare. Pete believes these programs are critical and need to be strengthened, not cut. Pete championed the "Social Security Fairness Act," legislation that repeals two harmful laws that actually reduce benefits.

Pete also championed legislation to provide affordability and ensure accessibility -- especially for Minnesotans in rural areas -- through the "Lower Costs, More Cures Act" that implements a first-ever Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap for our seniors. The bill holds drug companies responsible by increasing transparency and closing loopholes to crack down on pharmaceutical companies that take advantage of patients.

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