Recognizing the need for a Senior Security Promise.

IV 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) sub- mitted 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 peo- ple in the United States age 65 and older more than tri- pling; (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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:19 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1034.IH HR1034 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1034 IH (3) by 2085, those 65 and older are projected to make up about 22 percent of the total United States pop- ulation; 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 in- come earners to pay their fair share, and protect the safety net for older Americans; Whereas many older Americans on fixed incomes are strug- gling 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) Ameri- cans age 65 and over in the labor force (working or ac- tively seeking work), including 5,500,000 men (24.0 per- cent) and 4,500,000 women (15.9 percent); and VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:19 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1034.IH HR1034 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1034 IH (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 esti- mated 6-in-10 older workers across the Nation having ex- perienced or seen age discrimination in the workplace; Whereas older Americans touch the lives of many through countless hours of volunteering or unpaid work, individ- uals 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 Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:19 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1034.IH HR1034 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1034 IH (1) the United States needs a ‘‘Senior Security 1 Promise’’ that reaffirms our commitment to older 2 Americans, ensures access to affordable health care, 3 protects seniors from scams and financial fraud, and 4 provides the resources and support they need for a 5 dignified retirement; and 6 (2) the Congress must work on a bipartisan 7 and bicameral basis to achieve these goals. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:19 Jul 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1034.IH HR1034 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS