Strengthening Social Security

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that representatives from his Scranton district office will host various senior constituent service seminars throughout Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. The seminars will provide seniors with the opportunity to learn about various seniors programs such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medicare.  Seniors…

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced the re-introduction of the Help Extend Auditory Relief (HEAR) Act with the support of 10 members of Congress.  Cartwright first introduced the HEAR Act in 2013. According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one third of individuals over the age of 65, and nearly half of those over 85,…

Today U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Steve Cohen (TN-9) re-introduced the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act, legislation that would enact a cap on reform fees and rates associated with consumer credit products, including short-term and long-term payday loans and car title loans.  U.S. Senate Assistant Minority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL)…

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-17) joined Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), a member of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security, in introducing the ‘Social Security 2100 Act’.  The measure stands to cut taxes for Social Security recipients, provide a benefit bump for current and future beneficiaries, and keep the system strong for…

 Last week U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17), Blake Farenthold (TX-27), and Alcee Hastings (FL-20) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2014.  The legislation would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with other federal agencies and states to address a myriad of scams that target low-income, older…

Last month, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the Community Integration Act, H.R. 5547, legislation that would provide Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities greater access to home and community based services.  U.S. Senator and HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) previously introduced the legislation in the Senate. In 1990, Congress enacted the Americans…

Today, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) introduced the Vegetables Are Really Important Eating Tools for You (VARIETY) Act in order to expand the Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP) to the entirety of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  HIP, which operated in Hampden County, Massachusetts from November 2011 through April 2013,…

Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright introduced the bipartisan Skills Gap Strategy Act of 2014, with the support of Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8).  The legislation would require the Department of Labor (DOL) to develop a strategy report that provides recommendations to address the national skills gap – defined as the difference between the current supply of labor and skills of the…

U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright will hold his first Schuylkill County “Coffee with your Congressman” in Pottsville on Monday, April 28, 2014.  The event is a casual, come-and-go opportunity for constituents to visit directly with the Congressman.  This is a part of an ongoing series of events Congressman Cartwright will hold across the Seventeenth District…

Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced bicameral legislation to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care for older Americans.  The Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2014 would establish demonstration projects to test models of care that use direct-care workers (DCWs) in…