AARP Texas volunteers visit Congress today to push for stronger Social Security and Medicare

AARP volunteers and staff from Texas and every other state in the nation are visiting Capitol Hill today to express opposition to the President’s proposed Social Security benefit cut known as Chained CPI and to support responsible solutions to strengthen Medicare for Texans.  Meeting with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, Representatives Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, Sam Johnson, Pete Olson, Beto O'Rourke, Marc Veasey, Fileman Vela, Randy Weber and their staff, AARP volunteers are urging our representatives to have a separate debate on Social Security and to back specific proposals that would strengthen Medicare and the health care system overall.

“Our families, friends, and neighbors want Washington to listen to them when it comes to Medicare and Social Security,” said AARP Texas State President Ollie Besteiro. “They’ve made their voices heard online, at community meetings and events all over Texas, and today we’re bringing their message to Washington with the hope that we can go home and tell the people who live in our neighborhoods that Congress will strengthen these lifeline programs that matter so much to us.”

In addition to pushing for a broader retirement security debate on Social Security that is separate from ongoing budget negotiations, AARP Texas volunteers and staff will discuss embracing health care reforms that eliminate waste and improve care in order to drive positive change throughout the entire health care system and bring down health care costs for everyone, including in Medicare.

By taking action on items that include reducing waste and inefficiency, improving care coordination, and reforming Medicare’s payment incentives to doctors and hospitals in Texas for providing good care, Medicare can remain strong into the future.

AARP Texas volunteers and staff will continue to oppose harmful cuts and push for responsible change to strengthen Medicare and Social Security when they return home from Washington. For more on specific Medicare solutions AARP supports visit our  Medicare solutions fact sheet.