Title: Recognizing the need for a Senior Security Promise.
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner, and on bicameral basis, to ensure the health and financial well-being of older Americans.


[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1034 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1034

          Recognizing the need for a Senior Security Promise.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 2020

    Mr. Brindisi (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Cunningham) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Recognizing the need for a Senior Security Promise.

Whereas after a lifetime of hard work, older Americans have earned the right to 
        age with dignity and enjoy the fruits of their labor;
Whereas over the past century, life expectancy has increased for many Americans, 
        and the share of the population over age 65 has grown dramatically--

    (1) from 1900 through 2015, the percentage of people in the United 
States age 65 and older more than tripling;

    (2) according to the Administration on Aging, in 2015, those 65 and 
older accounting for about 15 percent of the total population, or 
50,900,000 individuals; and

    (3) by 2085, those 65 and older are projected to make up about 22 
percent of the total United States population;

Whereas older Americans have paid into critical programs like Social Security 
        and Medicare their entire working lives;
Whereas the Federal Government should work to strengthen and protect these 
        critical programs, ensure the trust funds are solvent for years to come, 
        require higher income earners to pay their fair share, and protect the 
        safety net for older Americans;
Whereas many older Americans on fixed incomes are struggling to keep up with the 
        skyrocketing prices costs of premiums and out of pocket costs of 
        prescription drugs;
Whereas access to affordable and reliable health care is a top priority for our 
        Nation's older Americans;
Whereas scams and fraudulent activities calls are more than an annoyance, they 
        can mean serious financial risks for older people;
Whereas family caregivers allow older Americans to age with dignity in their 
        homes, and the Federal Government should recognize the value of 
        caregivers and provide more financial support;
Whereas older Americans play an integral role in the labor force of the Nation, 
        with 10,000,000 seniors working or actively seeking to work--

    (1) according to the Administration for Community Living in 2018, with 
10,000,000 (19.6 percent) Americans age 65 and over in the labor force 
(working or actively seeking work), including 5,500,000 men (24.0 percent) 
and 4,500,000 women (15.9 percent); and

    (2) in 2018 older adults constituting 6.2 percent of the United States 
labor force;

Whereas older Americans are a vital part of the American workforce and our 
        economy--

    (1) at the Federal level, people age 50 and older contributing 43 
percent of the total tax take in 2018, or a little over $1,400,000,000,000;

    (2) an estimated seniors to provide 47 percent of total Federal tax 
revenue by 2050, or $5,800,000,000,000; and

    (3) by some estimates in 2018, people 50 and older spending 56 cents 
out of every retail dollar spent, by 2050, spending 61 cents of every 
dollar;

Whereas for older Americans who want to keep working, age discrimination 
        threatens their financial security, an estimated 6-in-10 older workers 
        across the Nation having experienced or seen age discrimination in the 
        workplace;
Whereas older Americans touch the lives of many through countless hours of 
        volunteering or unpaid work, individuals 50 and older creating an 
        estimated additional $745,000,000,000 in value through unpaid 
        activities, such as volunteering and family caregiving;
Whereas older Americans are the cornerstones of American families, with 
        12,900,000 households led by people that are age 75 and older; and
Whereas older Americans are a valued part of American life not only for their 
        contributions, but also their wisdom and experience: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States needs a ``Senior Security Promise'' 
        that reaffirms our commitment to older Americans, ensures 
        access to affordable health care, protects seniors from scams 
        and financial fraud, and provides the resources and support 
        they need for a dignified retirement; and
            (2) the Congress must work on a bipartisan and bicameral 
        basis to achieve these goals.
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