Issue Position: Seniors

Issue Position

The fact is we made a promise to seniors -- a promise for a decent, safe, healthy retirement -- and I intend to work every day to keep that promise to New Jersey's seniors.

Bob's Focus
Ensuring seniors now -- and in the future -- can afford the benefits they deserve and earned
Protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security for the future
Leading the fight against Alzheimer's
Protecting seniors from financial scams and predatory financial practices

Bob's Accomplishments
Working to protect the Medicare program for current and future seniors
Bob has been a leading voice in the Senate to protect Medicare and ensure it continues to provide seniors with access to high-quality care. Bob fought to extend the Medicare Trust Fund by decades. Additionally, Bob has consistently opposed efforts to privatize Medicare or turn it into a "voucher" program, both of which would lead to a decrease in benefits and higher costs for seniors.

Providing preventative care for seniors
Bob fought for free preventive services for seniors as part of health care reform. As a result, seniors are able to access services such as annual wellness visits, screenings for diabetes and cancer, flu shots and other key services that ensure seniors stay healthy -- with absolutely no out-of-pocket costs.

Fighting against changes to the Social Security program that would harm seniors
Bob has long been a champion of Social Security. He strongly opposes any cuts to benefits and favors strengthening the program to ensure seniors who rely on Social Security are able to enjoy their retirement.

Securing tax relief for seniors
Bob authored temporary property tax relief legislation that benefited homeowners who did not itemize on their Federal tax returns, primarily seniors on fixed incomes.

Helping ease suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Bob has been a leading supporter of federal medical research efforts, which help spur innovation. Bob has a strong personal commitment to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, the condition that took the life of his mother, Evangelina. Bob co-sponsored the National Alzheimer's Project Act, which was signed into law in 2011. Every year Bob also makes sure Congress provides the resources needed to the National Institutes of Health and other federal research institutions and he consistently supports the Administration's National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

Protecting seniors from financial scams and predatory financial practices
Bob fought to create and implement a strong and independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which stands up for consumer and cracks down on bad practices by banks, mortgage and credit card companies, and debt collectors.

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