Category Archives for Congress

Trump’s Big Bill, Big Promises – But a Bust for Seniors

Pubished in Blackstone Valley Call & Times on July 8, 2025

After 48 relentless days of political maneuvering—marked by cajoling, backroom bargaining, strategic threats, and last-minute incentives to win over stubborn holdouts—President Donald Trump finally got his wish: Congress passed his prized “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which he triumphantly signed into law on July 4, 2025.

On May 22, 2025, the House narrowly approved the sweeping 900-page bill by a vote of 215–214–1. Every House Democrat opposed the measure. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH), joined the opposition, while Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-MD) voted “present.” Two GOP lawmakers did not vote.

What’s In the Bill: Tax Breaks Up, Safety Nets Down

The legislation extends the 2017 individual tax cuts and adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, auto loan interest, and “Trump Accounts” for children. It raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for five years, increases the child tax credit, imposes a remittance levy, and taxes college endowment income.

On the spending side, H.R. 1 raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, slashes over $1 trillion from Medicaid and Medicare, expands work requirements for  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, and allocates $150 billion each to defense and border enforcement—boosting ICE funding to over $100 billion by 2029.

Senate Republicans spent more than five weeks reviewing the House bill’s provisions to comply with the Byrd Rule, walking a tightrope between deficit hawks and moderates. After a marathon “vote-a-rama” that saw 46 amendment votes (only six of which passed), the Senate approved the bill 51–50 on July 1, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

The reconciliation process allowed the Senate to pass the bill with a simple majority rather than the standard 60-vote threshold. When the bill returned to the House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump personally lobbied holdouts, linking support to other legislative priorities and negotiating procedural rules. Early on July 3, the House adopted the Senate version in a 218–214 vote, with only Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) voting with Democrats. The bill was sent to the White House and signed into law the following day.

Despite Republican praise, public reaction to Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” has been largely negative. A KFF Health Tracking Poll found that 64% of Americans view H.R. 1 unfavorably, compared to 35% in support.

President Trump and GOP leaders hailed the bill as a historic conservative win that fulfills “America First” promises—cutting taxes, slashing regulations, boosting border security, promoting energy independence, and reducing federal spending. “This is a major victory for hardworking families,” said Rhode Island GOP Chair Joe Powers in a statement, praising the bill for delivering middle-class tax relief and real border control.

But Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI), representing Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, sees it differently and warns of the devastating consequences to aging programs and services.

“Trump’s big, ugly bill” shows that Republican lawmakers, following Trump’s marching orders, voted for “the largest theft in American history to further enrich the richest among us,” he says.

“Simply put, because of this horrific legislation, Americans will be poorer, sicker, hungrier, and further away from economic opportunity,” says the Rhode Island Congressman.

Deep Cuts and Dire Warnings from Aging Advocates

SACRI Policy Advisor Maureen Maigret emphasized the need for swift action in Rhode Island, stating, “It is crucial for the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to promptly convene the advisory group outlined in Section 8 of the state’s FY 2026 budget bill.”

“For years, SACRI has worked to ensure a balanced system of long-term services—supporting quality nursing home care, expanding access to affordable home and community-based services, and collaborating with the Office of Healthy Aging and other aging advocacy groups to promote healthy aging,” says Maigret.

SACRI, a statewide coalition advocating for older Rhode Islanders, has partnered with other organizations to make significant strides in these areas, according to Executive Director Carol Anne Costa. “We cannot allow this progress to be reversed, especially as older adults are the fastest-growing segment of the state’s population,” Costa says.

“We have sent a letter to Secretary Charest requesting that SACRI be included in the advisory group established by Article 8 of the state’s FY 2026 budget bill.”

Now accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total population, the number of Americans age 65 and older is steadily increasing.

“Make no mistake: this harmful, cold-hearted bill will wreak havoc on our country’s fragile aging services infrastructure—at a time when demand for the Medicare and Medicaid-supported services it delivers is growing,” warns Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge.

“This legislation deals a significant blow to a core element of our country’s social safety net: Medicaid,” adds Sloan, emphasizing that the consequences “will not be pretty.”

She further warns, “Due to the level of deficit this bill will create, Medicare payments to providers may be reduced by 4% for the next ten years.”

According to Sloan, the bandaids included in H.R. 1—such as freezing (but not reducing) nursing home provider taxes and creating a rural health transformation fund, both touted as protections for older adults and aging services providers—will soon prove ill-equipped to prevent the bill’s damage. As states begin to grapple with budget shortfalls caused by reduced federal Medicaid contributions, the suffering, she says, will begin.

Max Richtman, President & CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, warned that 16 million Americans may lose health coverage, and millions more could lose access to food assistance. He stressed the bill’s devastating effects on the 7.2 million seniors dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid and the 6.5 million older adults who rely on SNAP benefits.

“These beneficiaries are some of the most vulnerable members of our society — and Republicans have put them at risk in order to pay for another tax cut mainly for the rich,” he says.

AARP: Safety Nets Shredded, Protections Undermined

Although AARP expressed strong opposition to many provisions in the reconciliation bill, the organization did support several key measures. These included increased investment in affordable housing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, raising the additional senior standard deduction to $6,000, and expanding the Section 45S tax credit for paid family and medical leave.

Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond criticized the bill’s cuts to Medicaid, ACA Marketplace coverage, and food assistance, calling them particularly harmful to older adults, rural residents, and family caregivers. She emphasized that over 17 million Americans aged 50 and older rely on Medicaid to remain in their homes and manage chronic health conditions.

“This is a moment to strengthen—not weaken—the supports that help people stay in their homes, access needed health care, and live with dignity and independence,” said LeaMond, representing nearly 38 million members nationwide.

She stressed that AARP remained strongly opposed to Senate provisions that would slash Medicaid, Marketplace coverage, and food assistance, making it harder for older adults to get by.

“More than 17 million Americans age 50 and older rely on Medicaid as a critical safety net to stay in their homes, manage chronic conditions, and afford long-term care,” says LeaMond. “By limiting how states fund their Medicaid programs, the new law threatens health care access—particularly for people in rural and underserved areas and through safety-net providers,” she adds.

LeaMond also expressed concern over delayed implementation of nursing home staffing standards, which are estimated to save 13,000 lives annually, and provisions allowing drug companies to continue charging high prices for certain orphan drugs—even while selling the same medicines overseas at far lower costs.

AARP opposes H.R. 1’s new burdens that could cost people their health care or food assistance when they are unable to work due to age discrimination, caregiving responsibilities, or chronic illness. “This will only make it harder for many older adults to access needed health care and to put food on the table,” she says.

She also warns that the new SNAP cost-sharing formula could shift billions in expenses to state budgets, forcing states to restrict eligibility, reduce benefits, or withdraw from the program entirely.

Finally, AARP strongly opposed the bill’s 10-year moratorium on state and local regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), arguing that it undermines consumer protections in employment, housing, and health care—leaving older adults more vulnerable to harm from biased or untested AI systems.

For additional information on H.R. 1’s impact on senior programs and service, visit: aarp.org/advocacy/fight-senate-cuts-medicaid-snap
aarp.org/advocacy/support-budget-bill-tax-proposals

With the Latest SSA Trustee Report Released, Congress Must Act Now to Fix Social Security

Published in Blackstone Valley Call & Times on June 24, 2025

Just before Medicare celebrates its 60th anniversary this July and Social Security marks its 90th birthday in August, the Social Security Board of Trustees recently released its annual report on the financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds.

According to this year’s estimate, by 2033, projected revenues will only cover 77% of scheduled benefits—unless Congress takes action to address the program’s looming shortfall. Combining the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI) trust funds would extend coverage for another year, ensuring 81% of scheduled benefits through 2034, instead of 2035, as previously estimated.

The trustees also reported that Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (Medicare Part A, which covers certain healthcare services) will be able to pay full benefits until 2033, a year earlier than the previous estimate of 2024. At that point, the fund is expected to cover 89% of benefits.

For 2024, the Social Security Administration (SSA) paid $1.47 trillion in benefits to about 68 million beneficiaries, while its administrative costs were just $7.4 billion—representing a very low 0.5% of total expenditures. However, the projected 75-year actuarial deficit is 3.82% of taxable payroll, higher than the 3.50% projected in last year’s report.

Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, stressed that ensuring the financial stability of the trust funds remains a top priority for the Trump Administration. “We must work together—Congress, SSA, and others—to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse to protect and strengthen the trust funds for millions of Americans who rely on it for secure retirement or disability benefits,” he stated.

In responding to the released Trustee’s report, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (D-CT) criticized the current administration’s approach, calling the Trustees’ Report a wake-up call to enhance Social Security for the first time in more than 50 years. Larson also pushed back against misleading claims from President Trump and Elon Musk about waste and abuse within the system. “Seniors, veterans, and disabled workers rely on these earned benefits, and they’re counting on Congress to do its job,” Larson said. “While Republicans push for privatization, Democrats have a plan to protect and expand Social Security.”

Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act, introduced in the last Congress with 189 cosponsors, aims to strengthen Social Security by expanding benefits and increasing payroll taxes to ensure the program’s long-term solvency.

Media Headlines on Social Security’s “Insolvency” Create Unnecessary Fear

Some media outlets, including The Washington Post, have raised alarms with bold headlines warning that Social Security could become “insolvent by 2033” or even “bankrupt.” In a statement, Bob Weiner, former Chief of Staff to the U.S. House Committee on Aging, rejects these claims, noting that the SSA currently holds a $2.7 trillion surplus. According to Weiner, the Trustees’ warning that the program may cover only 81% of benefits by 2034 is being misinterpreted as insolvency or bankruptcy. “That’s neither bankruptcy nor insolvency. Congress can fix this, perhaps by raising the income cap on Social Security taxes,” Weiner explains.

Weiner points out that, in 2026, the income cap for paying Social Security taxes is set to be $181,800. He also emphasizes that Social Security has faced repeated budget cuts to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. “We must protect Social Security as a priority,” Weiner says. “As Speaker Emerita Pelosi often reminds us, ‘First, do no harm.’”

Aging Groups Give Their Thoughts About Fixing Social Security

In statements, Social Security advocacy groups have also weighed in on and give   comments on the latest Social Security and Medicare Trustee reports.  

Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works, argues that the program is fully affordable and costs only about 6% of the GDP at the end of the 21st century. She believes Congress will act to avert the projected shortfall, as it always has in the past. The key question to ask, Altman says, is whether lawmakers will choose to bring in more money through higher taxes or reduce benefits.

Altman strongly opposes cutting benefits, charges that politicians who don’t support increasing Social Security revenue are, by default, advocating for cuts. She highlights the impact of income inequality, which has cost Social Security over $1.4 trillion since 1983. “If the wealthy paid their fair share into the program, we could easily protect and expand Social Security’s modest benefits,” she notes.

While Americans are divided on many issues, Altman points out that there is broad consensus in support of Social Security. “The real crisis facing Social Security is not a future shortfall, but the ongoing sabotage it’s experiencing now,” she says. Altman specifically references the role of Elon Musk’s DOGE, which has pushed out thousands of Social Security staff members, including nearly half of its senior executives, resulting in an irreplaceable loss of institutional knowledge.

Despite these challenges, Altman notes that Social Security is run efficiently, with administrative costs well under a penny for every dollar spent. A major increase or decrease in administrative spending would have minimal impact on the program’s finances.

Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, says this year’s comments on the Trustees’ report, mirrors those he made last year – It’s time to rebuild reserves in the Social Security Trust Fund. However, he warns against harmful proposals such as raising the retirement age or means-testing benefits, both of which would cut benefits for millions of Americans.

“Raising the retirement age to 69 or 70 would significantly reduce lifetime benefits. These ideas have been part of Republican proposals to address the projected shortfall,” Richtman explains.

Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, urges aging advocacy groups not to remain complacent. “Republicans in Congress are eager to cut the benefits Americans have worked a lifetime to earn,” he warns. “We cannot allow Social Security to be privatized or dismantled.”

Fiesta also calls for stronger Medicare reform, urging Congress to curb the high cost of prescription drugs and hold Medicare Advantage insurance corporations accountable for rising costs that don’t benefit patients.

A Final Note…

Social Security is an essential lifeline for millions of Americans, and its future is now at a crossroads. Can a partisan Congress work together to find a political viable fix?

While the media reports Social Security’s impending insolvency and bankruptcy, there is no doubt that Congress must act soon to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. Whether through increasing revenue or reforming benefits, the decision on how to strengthen Social Security will shape the future of retirement and disability benefits for generations to come. It’s time for Congress to act.

View the 2025 Trustees Report at www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/TR/2025/.

Preparedness: Senate Aging Committee Preps for Impending 2025 Hurricane Season

Published in RINewsToday on May 26, 2025

Just days ago, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin for this year. NOAA’s outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, estimates a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

“In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we’ve never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,” said Ken Graham, Director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, in a May 22 statement. He warned that above-average Atlantic Ocean temperatures are setting the stage for increased hurricane activity. “This outlook is a call to action: be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you’re ready before a storm threatens,” he urged.

Over a week before NOAA released its 2025 outlook, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a full committee hearing on Wednesday, May 14, at 3:30 p.m. in room SD–106. Like Graham, the hearing underscored the urgent need for disaster preparedness—particularly for older Americans, who face unique challenges during emergencies. Scheduled ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season, the hearing emphasized the importance of having a clear, actionable emergency plan in place before disaster strikes.

There is No Alternative to Being Prepared for Disasters

Expert witnesses, at the one  hour and 31 minute hearing, shared firsthand insights and best practices for protecting older adults and people with disabilities during emergencies, aiming to raise awareness and inspire action among seniors, caregivers, and policymakers nationwide.

“I’m no stranger to disasters,” admitted Sen. Rick Scott, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, in his opening statement. During his eight years as Florida’s governor and six years as a U.S. Senator, he has personally witnessed the devastation hurricanes can cause. “If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that preparedness saves lives. There is no alternative to getting prepared and having a disaster plan,” he said, stressing that possessions can be replaced—but lives cannot.

“We know the risks and we know the statistics, and it’s our responsibility to plan accordingly,” urged Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, in her opening statement. While natural disasters are dangerous for everyone, they pose even greater risks to older adults and people with disabilities, noted the New York Senator.

According to Sen. Gillibrand, research shows that people with disabilities are up to four times more likely to die in a disaster than the general population, and older adults are more likely to die in a disaster than any other demographic group.

She called for the development of accessible shelters and transportation, alerts in multiple languages, and the requirement that long-term care facilities have disaster plans in place before—not after—a crisis occurs. Gillibrand also announced her intention to reintroduce legislation that would establish a nationwide grant program under the Older Americans Act. This program would incentivize and support states in creating strategic plans for aging populations, with disaster preparedness included as a core component.

“In addition to planning, we must also ensure that state and local governments are properly resourced to build accessibility into their disaster and recovery responses,” she said. Gillibrand also emphasized the need to safeguard federal resources provided through agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Sheriff Chris Nocco of Pasco County, Florida—a county with 24 miles of coastline, located just north of Tampa Bay and home to roughly 750,000 residents, 22% of whom are age 65 and over—shared his insights and expertise on preparing for and recovering from natural disasters. He noted that federal and state partnerships, such as the National Guard and Coast Guard, are invaluable during rescue operations. He also urged law enforcement agencies to utilize evolving technologies such as drones for disaster preparedness and recovery.

“I witnessed individuals who had climbed onto roofs to avoid the rapidly rising storm surge. In one instance, a woman, her small child, and elderly relatives had climbed to the roof of their three-story multifamily housing unit and were awaiting rescue,” said Nocco. He stressed that this highlights the critical importance of following emergency management directives—especially evacuation orders—particularly for the most vulnerable in our communities.

With several days’ notice of an impending disaster, Nocco recommends that older adults request extra prescription medications from their pharmacies and remember to bring phone chargers, emergency contacts, credit cards or cash, and extra clothing when evacuating.

“When people are told to evacuate, they trust law enforcement and fire rescue personnel,” said Nocco. “But they also trust their churches to say, ‘Shelter here.” He suggested that churches can serve as effective emergency shelters and proposed that federal resources be used to equip them with generators and hurricane-resistant windows.

Costly Disasters Becoming “New Normal”

“Nearly 20 percent of Americans are in the 65-and-older age group, and the current growth of this population is unprecedented in U.S. history,” said Jennifer Pipa, Vice President of Disaster Programs for the American Red Cross, noting that this demographic shift comes at a time when more frequent and costly disasters are becoming the “new normal.”  Her Red Cross career began in 2004 when she joined the Disaster Action team in Raleigh, North Carolina as a volunteer

According to Pipa, The New York Times reported that following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, nearly half of those who died were age 65 or older. “Sadly, many drowned at home or died from storm-related injuries,” she said.

Pipa also cited other disasters that claimed the lives of older adults. “The 2018 Camp Fire, which burned for 18 days in Paradise, California, resulted in 85 deaths. Many victims were elderly or had disabilities—the average age was 72. In 2023, more than two-thirds of the 102 confirmed victims of the Maui fires were over the age of 60. And last year, Hurricane Helene caused at least 250 deaths in the United States, with many victims being elderly. In North Carolina alone, two out of every three deaths from Hurricane Helene were among adults aged 60 or older,” she added.

“The intersection of these trends—an aging population and significantly more disasters—should concern all of us,” Pipa told the Senators.

She emphasized that the impact of disasters on older Americans doesn’t end when the storm passes. “People over 65 make up nearly 10 percent of American Red Cross emergency shelter populations after evacuations are lifted,” she said.

“Our responders often encounter elderly disaster survivors living in severely damaged homes or in dwellings without power or water. These individuals frequently express fear of losing their homes and property if they leave. In some cases, we meet older adults who are physically or emotionally unable to get to a shelter or find safer housing,” Pipa added.

She highlighted several Red Cross programs tailored to help communities prepare for disasters:

·       Be Red Cross Ready: A free national preparedness education program for adults, taught by certified instructors.

·       Home Fire Campaign – Home Visits: Fire safety guidance tailored for older adults—such as keeping mobility aids, hearing devices, and medications near the bed, or relocating bedrooms to the ground floor. Includes installation of accessible smoke alarms.

·       Caregivers Preparedness Checklist: Developed with AARP to help caregivers ensure both they and their loved ones are prepared.

·       Building Your Support Network: Encourages older adults to develop a network of trusted individuals who can assist during emergencies.

·       Emergency App: Offers customized preparedness tips, particularly for households with older adults, focusing on hurricane and wildfire planning.

Disaster Planning with the Community  

Finally, Luis Vance Taylor, Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services—who is disabled and uses a wheelchair—stressed the importance of inclusive emergency planning. “Forward-leaning emergency management agencies are ending the practice of planning for the community and are choosing to plan with the community,” he said. Taylor advocated for the creation of Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Advisory Committees at the state and local levels to ensure better outcomes.

“Inclusive planning leads to press conferences with American Sign Language interpreters, critical updates posted in accessible formats, and evacuation resources and shelters that are both physically and programmatically accessible,” he explained.

Taylor also warned that cutting or eliminating agencies like FEMA, ACL, or the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response would have devastating consequences—especially for older adults and people with disabilities. “These agencies need adequate funding to deliver the full range of federal resources required to respond to and recover from large-scale disasters that overwhelm local communities,” he said.

Training programs before disasters occur and crucial when there is no time to think of everything to take with you.  “People forget their chargers. You know what charger? They forget their wheelchair charger,” notes Taylor. “So we have to engage them beforehand. And that comes through training,” he says. 

To watch Senate Aging Committee Disaster Preparedness hearing, go to https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/preparing-for-disasters-unique-challenges-facing-older-americans.