Congresswoman Richardson Applauds Push To Improve The Lives Of Older Americans With Seniors Bill Of Rights And Task Force

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Laura Richardson joined with like-minded colleagues to fight for the rights of America's older adults by announcing the formation of the Democratic Caucus' Seniors Task Force and the task force's Seniors Bill of Rights.
"Protecting senior citizens and providing them with the support they need is one of the reasons that I came to Congress and it remains a top priority of mine," Congresswoman Richardson said. "Seniors deserve financial security, transportation security and quality health care, all of which I believe the Seniors Task Force and the Seniors Bill of Rights will make easier for them to achieve. Aside from the almost universal needs of our seniors, such as healthcare and Social Security, the task force will also focus the other sometimes ignored needs, such as the fact that many seniors -- more than a third of the seniors in the 37th Congressional District -- are currently raising their grandchildren and other young family members while not receiving any additional or supportive benefits to ease this burden. These and other similar scenarios cannot be ignored any longer."

The Seniors Task Force will accomplish its mission by focusing on three principles that are critically important to aging Americans: financial security, affordable and reliable health care and quality of life as people age. By highlighting policies in Congress that advance these principles on behalf of America's aging population, the task force will ensure that the needs of America's senior citizens remain at the forefront of public discourse.

"An important way to help provide seniors with both financial security and quality of life is to make sure they also have employment security," Congresswoman Richardson added. "In these tough economic times, many seniors are forced to work into their old age in order to maintain financial stability. That is why I recently introduced H.R. 4819, the Expanding Opportunities for Older Americans Act, which will help seniors find and keep good paying jobs by expanding the Older Americans Act's Seniors Community Employment Program."

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