Seniors
My grandmother worked her entire adult life to provide for her family. She owned and operated a small business with my grandfather, sewed gloves at the Napa glove factory and labeled wine bottles at Inglenook Winery. When she retired, she had only a small pension of $53 per month.
Social Security and Medicare gave my grandmother comfort and security. She would always talk about how she earned those benefits, how she paid into them. That's exactly what Medicare and Social Security are—they're earned benefits. And they are so critically important to both current and future generations of retirees.
As a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Social Security, I'm fighting to strengthen our social safety net. I'm also fighting to stop Republicans in Congress from privatizing Social Security, slashing benefits, and ending the Medicare guarantee.
I strongly support protecting Medicare and Social Security. Congress must not take away benefits earned over a lifetime of hard work, nor balance the budget on the backs of our seniors.
More on Seniors
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement on the passage of the Republican budget bill:
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) released the following statement after the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a cost-of-living adjustment of 8.7 percent next year. This adjustment will be the largest increase in benefits in more than 40 years.
Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) recognized the 87th Anniversary of Social Security by vowing to preserve this critical program that helps protect our nation's most vulnerable and provides beneficiaries a lifeline that empowers them to live a life of dignity and buy necessities from groceries to prescription drugs.
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted to pass the bipartisan Securing a Strong Retirement Act (SECURE Act) to increase retirement savings for Americans and simplify and clarify retirement plan rules. The bill also allows individuals to pay down a student loan instead of contributing to a 401(k) plan while still receiving an employer match in their retirement plan.
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced he coauthored the just-introduced Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act. This legislation expands on the previous versions of the Social Security 2100 Act to better strengthen and protect the Social Security program.
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Rep. John Katko (NY-24) announced the reintroduction of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act. This bipartisan bill addresses mental health care gap for seniors by expanding the network of provider that can deliver mental and behavioral health services to Medicare beneficiaries.
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, voted to pass H.R. 1994, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019. This bill expands access to retirement plans for employees of small businesses, makes it easier for home health care workers in California to access retirement savings tools, and eliminates an unfair and unjust tax hike on Gold Star families caused by mistakes in the Republican tax law. A statement from Thompson is below.
Napa, CA – This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson (CT-01) met with leaders on seniors' issues from Napa County, including Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht, Heather Stanton of Napa County Commission on Aging, Seniors' Advocate Betty Rhodes, Kris Brown of CSOA, and Celine Regalia of Collabria Care. Thompson cosponsored Larson's Social Security 2100 Act, a bill that would ensure the solvency of Social Security through the year 2100 and provide a two-percent benefit increase for seniors.
Napa, CA – This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John Larson (CT-01) met with leaders on seniors' issues from Lake County, including Kelli Page, program manager of Lake-Mendocino Area Agency on Aging and Dena Eddings, program manager of Lake-Mendocino Area Agency on Aging. Thompson cosponsored Larson's Social Security 2100 Act, a bill that would ensure the solvency of Social Security through the year 2100 and provide a two-percent benefit increase for seniors.
