Social Security is a promise we made to seniors who have paid into these programs with every paycheck. Medicare is the promise of health care coverage for millions of seniors and people with disabilities. We have an absolute obligation to keep these promises and protect Social Security and Medicare.

People across our community have paid into the Social Security and Medicare programs for decades, understanding that these programs would provide health and financial security later in their lives. We can—and we must—ensure the long-term viability of these programs.

In Congress, I oppose efforts to privatize Social Security and Medicare, and I oppose efforts to cut benefits for seniors or the disabled. To ensure the long-term viability of these programs we need to make government work more efficiently by cutting wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse, but not by cutting these programs.

During the pandemic, access to Medicare is even more important. Medicare beneficiaries are some of the most vulnerable for contracting COVID-19, and should not be forced to choose to forgo regular care or risk exposure. In Congress, I led a bipartisan effort to expand telehealth services, ensuring Medicare patients do not have to make this risky choice, and I have worked to protect and strengthen Medicare Advantage plans.

I also co-sponsored legislation to ensure benefit guarantees and to address the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) that unfairly impacts many in our community, especially our teachers.