AHEAD OF SENIOR FAIR IN KINGSTON, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN FIGHTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE IN RESPONSE TO TRUMP AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROPOSAL TO DRASTICALLY CUT BOTH PROGRAMS

Ahead of Senior Fair in Kingston, Congressman Pat Ryan Fights to Protect and Expand Social Security and Medicare in Response to Trump and House Republicans Proposal to Drastically Cut Both Programs

Former President Trump recently proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare; now the Republican Study Committee, made up of more than 170 Republican Representatives, is putting that plan into action, calling for $1.5T in cuts to Social Security and $1.2T in cuts to Medicare 

Ryan, who recently received a perfect 100% rating from the Alliance for Retired Americans, has consistently fought back against House GOP’s attempts to cut these earned benefits 

KINGSTON, NY  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan reiterated his promise to protect and expand Social Security and Medicare in response to former President Trump and House Republicans’ proposal to drastically cut both programs. Ryan’s push comes amidst increasing attacks by far -right Republicans on Social Security and Medicare. In recent weeks, former President Trump proposed cuts to both programs; in the House Republican Study Committee’s 2025 budget, they proposed $2.7 trillion in combined cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Their same budget proposal included $5.5 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and large corporations. Ryan will host a Senior Fair in Kingston tomorrow to connect senior citizens directly with the assistance and services they need. 

“Just last month, Trump called for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and now far-right Republicans in Congress are putting that plan into action, proposing $2.7 trillion in combined cuts to the programs. Their plan would raise Medicare costs and reduce Social Security benefits, threatening retirement security for millions of Americans – I refuse to let that happen,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I will not stand by while Trump sells out hard-working Americans to give yet another tax cut to billionaires. I will keep fighting every day to protect and expand Social Security and Medicare.”

Congressman Ryan’s Senior Resource Fair will take place from 10:00am to 1:00pm tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County at 507 Broadway in Kingston, NY 12401. Community partners who will be onsite to offer assistance to seniors include, but are not limited to: the Social Security Administration, the Ulster County Office of the Aging, Hudson Valley Hospice, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, and the New York State Comptroller’s Office. 

Recently, former President Trump said that there is “a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” The Republican Study Committee, which consists of more than 170 House Republican House members, are now putting that plan into action, proposing to raise the age for Social Security and calling for $2.7 trillion in combined cuts to the programs. Their same proposed budget includes $5.5 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra wealthy and big corporations. 

When now-Speaker Mike Johnson led the Republican Study Committee in 2020, it proposed cutting Medicare by $1.9 trillion and Social Security by $756 billion over the course of 10 years and would include provisions to privatize Medicare. Republican Senator Rick Scott has proposed a plan to sunset Social Security and Medicare, threatening the very existence of both programs.

In September, Ryan voted against Republicans' bill H.R. 5525 that would have slashed funding for the Social Security Administration by 30%. Ryan has also condemned House Republicans’ past proposals to cut safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid and funding for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

In addition to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and other programs that Hudson Valley families rely on, Congressman Ryan has also prioritized making those benefits accessible to constituents. He rolled out his Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van to bring his staff of skilled caseworkers directly to constituents in their neighborhood to assist them with accessing federal benefits like Social Security.

“Representative Pat Ryan stands by his commitments to his constituents, tackling government and Social Security bureaucracy and ensuring that senior citizens in his district are not just a number to be ignored,” said Barbara, a constituent in Middletown. “After 14 months of frustration with the Social Security Administration for benefits owed to me, Representative Ryan’s office was able to support me and resolve my challenge with Social Security in less than a week.”

Congressman Ryan utilized his C.A.R.E.S. Van to bring assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County for a one-day resource fair. Ulster County currently does not have a Social Security Administration Office. Ryan has made repeated calls for it to reopen.

On the same day that Donald Trump said in an interview that “there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting,” President Biden unveiled his proposed budget that would protect programs like Social Security and Medicare.

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