Press Releases

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) joined House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) on the House floor this week to protest cuts to Social Security proposed by House Republicans.

“I’m here to speak on behalf of the 191,000 people from Northeast Pennsylvania who depend on monthly Social Security checks,” Cartwright said. “Rather than cutting benefits, Democrats have a plan to protect and enhance Social Security. It’s a plan to put people over politics and to make good on our promise to put American seniors first.”

Representatives Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) also slammed the Republican budget plan and called for action to enhance Social Security.

The Members’ remarks can be viewed here. 

“It has been more than 50 years since Congress has enhanced Social Security. Seventy million Americans rely on Social Security. Ten thousand baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. Forty percent of Americans rely on Social Security in and of itself as their primary tenet for retirement,” Larson said. “It is the nation's number one anti-poverty program for the elderly and for children. Our colleagues have taken to the Floor today so that the American people understand that what's between them and enhancement to this program is a vote, a vote for Social Security 2100. What could be a better bipartisan plan than helping out every single individual in everyone's district.” 

“Democrats are protecting critical programs like Social Security and Medicare and the myriad ways in which, unfortunately our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing the exact opposite,” Neguse said. “[The Republican Study Committees plan] upends critical programs that American families depend on, makes draconian cuts to Medicare and Social Security. It’s a plan that increases the retirement age to 69, forcing Americans to work longer for less, a plan that cuts disability benefits, erodes care for children, making it more expensive to care for our families. Their plan raises Medicare costs for seniors, takes away the programs' ability to negotiate prescription drug costs, repeals the $35 insulin and $2,000 out-of-pocket caps that House Democrats, the members gathered here on the Floor this evening, fought so vigorously to enact in the 117th Congress.” 

The largest caucus of House Republicans released a budget plan to make $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security benefits and $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicare while promising another round of tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations. 

Last year, Cartwright co-sponsored Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act  to extend the program’s solvency and increase benefits across-the-board by scrapping the cap on income above $400,000 a year, so the wealthiest Americans pay in to Social Security with each and every paycheck. 

“Social Security is the bedrock program for seniors, survivors and the disabled. For decades it has remained strong and provided a vital source of income for middle class Americans. With the steps laid out in the Social Security 2100 Act, we can both improve benefits while providing a tax break for seniors now and ensure Social Security for future generations,” Cartwright said.