Social Security and Medicare are the cornerstones of retirement security. Together, these two programs have lifted seniors, once the poorest age group in the nation, out of poverty and given them the dignified retirement they deserve. Social Security is crucially important to women, because retirement is especially hard on women. In old age, women face all sorts of obstacles to stability and security. Without Social Security, these obstacles would be even larger.
Women live longer.
They are more likely to have been out of the workforce when raising children. And if the wage gap wasn't bad enough when you were working, it makes it difficult to build retirement savings. Since woman are more likely to work part-time, they are less likely to have a private pension. All of these factors mean that women rely more heavily on Social Security and Medicare than men. That's why I introduced a resolution, co-sponsored by 114 members, to keep the spotlight on this important issue.