Seniors

Arizona is now the second-fastest growing state in the nation and our senior population is growing with it—jumping from 90,000 in 1965 to over 758,000 people today. 

I believe it is very important we provide our seniors with the best health care available. In Congress, I have supported:

• stem cell research;
• to allow the importation of safe and effective drugs from Canada to lower drug prices; and
• the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, requiring equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans.

I have also been a cosponsor of:

• the Notch Fairness Act which will fix the “notch” problem by allowing workers who attain age 65 after 1981 and before 1992 to receive a lump sum payment of $5,000 over four years;
• the Social Security Fairness Act which assures that retirees and their dependents are not penalized if they have earned pensions both from the federal or state government from one job, and from Social Security from another job; and
• the Elder Justice Act which creates a new comprehensive federal program that will help to prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.  These problems are often overlooked and under-reported in our communities, and will only increase as Arizona’s population continues to age. 

In addition, I introduced the Safe and Effective Drug Development Act (H.R. 2592) on June 6, 2007, a bill that would create and fund public-private partnerships between the FDA and universities or non-profits to modernize drug safety and accelerate innovation. I am pleased that H.R. 2592 was signed into law by President Bush on September 27, 2007.  Click here to watch a floor speech I delivered in July 2007 about this bill.

I believe that we must take action to address the many problems with the law that created the Medicare Part D program. That is why my fourth vote in the 110th Congress was in favor of a bill that would begin reform of that law by addressing the high cost of medications. The bill will change the Medicare Part D program and will require the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for better prices on prescription drugs, savings that will be passed along to seniors and others. 

Furthermore, Social Security has been a promise to older Americans since the Great Depression, and I will fight to protect and defend it against risky privatization schemes. 

The biggest threat to Medicare and Social Security is our huge debt of over $9 trillion, and I will work to close the deficit through commonsense measures that I learned as a small businesswoman and as a member of the Arizona legislature. In both situations I learned how to successfully balance the books.

It’s time we stopped playing politics with the health care and security of our seniors and put aside partisanship to get the job done.  Providing the best possible health care assures all Americans will age with dignity.

Seniors' Resources

AARP Arizona

AHCCCS Seniors Services

Arizona Attorney General's Office

AZHealthInfo.org

National Council on Aging

Pima Council on Aging

Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO)

USA.gov