Chairman Aguilar Announces Task Force on Aging and Families as Trump Administration Threatens Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To kick off Older Americans Month, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar today announced the re-launch of the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families (TFAF). The Chairs of the Task Force are Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Doris Matsui (CA-07). The Co-Chairs are Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and the Vice Chairs are Reps. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John B. Larson (CT-01) and Mark Pocan (WI-02). The TFAF will deepen the Caucus’ commitment to protecting seniors’ hard-earned benefits against the Trump Administration's threats to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.
“The Trump Administration is dismantling the Social Security Administration and putting the benefits that our seniors rely on in jeopardy,” said Chairman Aguilar. “House Democrats are going to stand up for older Americans and their families and I’m proud to re-launch the Task Force on Aging and Families, led by two committed public servants in Jan Schakowsky and Doris Matsui. An essential part of the American Dream is ensuring a better life for the generation that comes after us while also honoring the sacrifices of our parents and grandparents who paved the way for our success. House Democrats will always defend and strengthen this central promise of our way of life.”
"Older Americans have spent their lives working to raise families, pay their taxes, protect our country, and build our communities. How are Republicans thanking them? By threatening to take away hard-earned benefits like Medicaid and Social Security. Older Americans deserve to retire with dignity and respect, and deserve high quality health care and financial security," said Rep. Schakowsky. "For my entire career, I have fought for older Americans and working families, that is why I am proud to continue to serve as one of the Chairs of the Task Force on Aging and Families. Instead of cutting Medicaid, we must expand it. Instead of attacking Social Security, we must protect and strengthen it. Instead of punishing the hungry, we must support them. Democrats stand ready to protect older Americans and ensure that they have all the resources they need in retirement."
“Since we founded the Task Force on Aging and Families in 2010, it has been a critical vehicle to ensure that Democrats are responding to the concerns of older Americans—and as Republicans attack programs like Social Security, Medicaid and SNAP more fervently than ever, the Task Force couldn’t be more vital,” said Rep. Matsui. “After years of hard work and paying into Social Security, older Americans deserve a dignified retirement—but Donald Trump and Elon Musk want to take those hard-earned benefits away and give tax breaks to billionaires instead. House Republicans want to cut $880 billion from Medicaid—which means many seniors could lose their health care and pay more for prescription drugs that they need to live. As these attacks on older Americans come swift and strong, our Task Force is fighting tooth and nail to stop them. We are spearheading the actions to permanently protect these programs.”
“After a lifetime of hard work, seniors deserve to retire with financial security, proper medical and long-term care, and a quality of life that allows them to continue to live independently and with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “This isn’t just important for seniors, it’s important for families and caregivers who balance a lot to take care of aging family members. The number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years, and the work of this task force to ensure we are doing right by America’s seniors is more important than ever.”
“Our seniors’ Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits are under attack,” said Rep. Larson. “Elon Musk and Donald Trump are gutting these essential programs with the support of Congressional Republicans to pay for another round of tax breaks for themselves and their billionaire friends. As Vice Chair of the Task Force on Aging and Families, I will stand united with Democrats against these attacks on our nation’s seniors, so we can protect access to health care for everyone and continue to fight to not just protect Social Security from cuts, but expand it for all beneficiaries for the first time in more than 50 years.”
“Older Americans have spent a lifetime working to be able to retire with dignity,” said Rep. Pocan. “Yet today’s extreme MAGA Republicans are dead set on cutting their earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. I’m honored to be a Vice Chair on this vital task force to fight back against these attacks on America’s seniors.”
“Our elders have spent their lives building our communities, and they deserve to age with dignity, security, and humanity. Now, as Trump, Musk, and Republicans threaten to gut Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential programs our seniors earned and deserve, we cannot and will not stand by,” said Rep. Pressley. “I am proud to continue my service on the Task Force on Aging and Families and look forward to working with my colleagues to not only safeguard these hard-earned benefits, but also advance an affirmative agenda that centers our seniors – like lowering the cost of prescription drugs, investing in affordable housing, expanding home and community-based services, and more.”
“Trump, Musk and Republicans' continued attacks on vital lifelines like Social Security and Medicare are creating chaos and uncertainty for the millions of seniors already struggling to pay for their prescription drugs, affordable and safe housing, and nutritious food,” said Rep. Doggett. “I’m pleased to once again join my colleagues in pushing back against cruel threats that are endangering these hard-earned benefits that Americans pay into every working day of their lives with the promise of dignity and security in retirement and times of disability.”
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