Protecting Social Security and Lowering Costs for Families

Boost to Social Security Benefits

On Thursday, the Social Security Administration announced that benefits will increase by 8.7 percent – or, on average, $146 per month. This year's boost is an important reminder that Social Security is the bedrock of financial security for America's seniors in challenging times. This increase in benefits, together with the historic action that Democrats have delivered to lower seniors' prescription drug costs with the Inflation Reduction Act, shows the vital role Medicare and Social Security in protecting seniors, including many in San Francisco, from rising costs.

Yet with Social Security and Medicare as essential as ever, extreme MAGA Republicans are openly plotting new schemes to slash seniors' benefits and raise their costs – including by threatening to cause an economic catastrophe by holding the debt limit hostage for their toxic agenda. Republicans are pledging to repeal the lower drug costs, and 158 House Republicans have already endorsed an extreme MAGA plan to privatize Social Security, raise the retirement age and end Medicare as we know it.

While extreme MAGA politicians play politics with people's lives, Democrats' commitment to Social Security, to Medicare and to our seniors is unshakable – because we always put People Over Politics.

Lowering Health Care Costs for Families
In April, President Biden took a powerful step to make health care more affordable and accessible by ending the "family glitch" in the Affordable Care Act, a longtime loophole that excluded some low-income families from accessing lower premium costs. When Open Enrollment begins on November 1st, nearly a million more Americans, including a large number of San Franciscans, will see lower premiums or gain affordable coverage. This means that, under President Biden and a Democratic Congress, 14 million Americans have gained the dignity and security of lower health care costs.

House Democrats have stood strong against years of right-wing attacks on Americans' health care: fighting back in the Congress, in the courts and across the country against Republican efforts to dismantle vital protections, drive up insurance costs, restrict access to care and hand massive tax breaks to Big Pharma. This is the latest step in Democrats' relentless fight to lower health costs. In our American Rescue Plan, we slashed ACA premiums for working families – and then locked in those savings with our Inflation Reduction Act.

While extreme MAGA Republicans want to repeal these lower costs and make health care more expensive for seniors and families, Democrats will never relent in our fight to put People Over Politics – because we know that health care is a right, not a privilege.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
For centuries, America has been blessed by vibrant, diverse, entrepreneurial Latino communities. From those whose roots predate our founding to immigrants embracing their new home, generations of Latinos have made America more American – with strong values of faith and family, courage and optimism.

As we mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the importance of ensuring that Latino families – and all of America's families – remain strong. That's why Democrats in Congress have put forth a bold vision of putting People Over Politics: lower costs, better-paying jobs and safer communities, while insisting on justice, equity and inclusion. This is what we're fighting for – and it stands in stark contrast to Republicans' extreme MAGA agenda.

Our nation's diverse, vibrant Latino communities will play a decisive role in determining our path forward. And together, we can build a future where parents can provide for their families, the people can determine the destiny of our Democracy, and every child can chase the American Dream. Read my full op-ed in La Opinión on why the strength of our families is on the ballot.

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