Congress Archives

Biden-McCarthy Debt Ceiling Deal Averts Disruption of Social Security, Medicare

Amid all the static about the debt ceiling deal that President Biden and Speaker McCarthy struck over the weekend, this much is certain: the deal is better for American seniors than a federal default. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means no one got everything they wanted,” said President Biden on Monday. “But that's the responsibility of governing.”

NCPSSM2023-06-01T09:28:42-04:00May 30th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Debt Ceiling, Democrats, GOP, President Biden|

Default Could Be Devastating to Seniors on Fixed Incomes

As the country nears a projected federal default date as early as June 1, experts and advocates are warning that seniors’ benefits could be in jeopardy. A default mean that the government will not be able to meet its financial obligations, resulting in delays for vital programs like Social Security and Medicare.

NCPSSM2023-05-17T12:41:12-04:00May 17th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Debt Ceiling, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Max Richtman, Medicare, Social Security|

Democrats Push for Strengthening Social Security in First Hearing of New Congress

The first hearing on Social Security of the new Congress saw Republicans claiming that they simply want information about the program’s status, while Democrats insisted that it’s time to boost Social Security --- and pushed back on GOP proposals to cut benefits.“ Today, we are faced with the fierce urgency of now. Five million Americans receive below-poverty level (Social Security) checks from their government because Congress has not enhanced benefits in more than 50 years,” said ranking member Rep. John Larson (D-CT).

Walter Gottlieb2023-04-28T11:01:22-04:00April 27th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Payroll Tax Cap, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Social Security|

Senators’ “Bipartisan” Social Security Plan Would Slash Benefits

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare has sent an urgent letter to Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Angus King (I-ME) expressing deep concern over a Social Security proposal reportedly taking shape under their names. The Cassidy-King plan would put Social Security on a slippery slope toward privatization — and ultimately cut benefits for future beneficiaries.

Walter Gottlieb2023-03-27T15:32:19-04:00March 22nd, 2023|Categories: Bernie Sanders, Boost Social Security, Congress, Democrats, Max Richtman, Rep. John Larson, Republicans, Social Security, Uncategorized|

Is is Time for Permanent Daylight Savings Time?

Should Daylight Savings Time be year-round? We, as a country, seem to ask ourselves that question every time we set the clocks ahead an hour in March. Making Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent would have enormous implications for all Americans.

Walter Gottlieb2023-03-10T16:20:52-04:00March 10th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Senate|

White House Budget Would Boost Medicare, Help Seniors in Myriad Ways

President Biden’s bold 2024 budget proposal puts him squarely on the side of working Americans in their ongoing struggle for retirement and health security. The new White House budget would keep the Medicare Part A trust fund solvent until 2050.

Walter Gottlieb2023-03-10T11:50:52-04:00March 9th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Prices, President Biden|

Raising the Social Security Retirement Age is a Benefit Cut

Few GOP proposals would cut seniors' benefits as blatantly as GOP proposals to raise the Social Security full retirement age from 67 to 70.

Walter Gottlieb2023-04-10T16:02:14-04:00February 3rd, 2023|Categories: Boost Social Security, Budget, Congress, Democrats, GOP, Medicare, Republicans, Social Security|

Republicans Are Playing With Fire – and Seniors’ Earned Benefits – By Risking Default

Today’s breaching of the debt ceiling by the U.S. government is making seniors’ advocates nervous. The federal government is now on track to default on its financial obligations (including the ability to make Social Security and Medicare payments) as early as June --- unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, which it has done 78 times since 1960. As CNN's Jake Tapper put it, "Republicans are vowing to cut future spending before agreeing to pay bills that are already due."

NCPSSM2023-02-03T12:32:29-04:00January 19th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Debt, Kevin McCarthy, Medicaid, Medicare, President Biden, Social Security|

McCarthy Speakership Battle May Cost Seniors in the Long Run

Kevin McCarthy’s battle for the House speakership may have made for compelling political theater this week, but it has potentially dire implications for America’s seniors. According to news reports, McCarthy (R-CA) has made concessions to holdout House members that would empower right-wingers in Congress who want to slash Social Security and Medicare --- in order to fulfill his personal ambition to become Speaker.

NCPSSM2023-01-06T17:04:45-04:00January 6th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Medicare, Republicans, Social Security|

Does New Hill Spending Deal Affect Social Security & Medicare?

Congressional negotiators have struck a compromise on spending for Fiscal Year 2023, avoiding a government shutdown this Friday. The House and Senate are expected to pass a short-term extension by the end of this week, giving negotiators more time to finish a final funding package for the rest of the fiscal year. We spoke with NCPSSM legislative director Dan Adcock about the compromise deal.