I hope you all have had a relaxing summer wherever you are in the world. In some ways, it has been a hair-raising summer. There is the Department of Justice’s seizure of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago; the success of pro–Trump primary candidates including Liz Cheney’s Wyoming primary defeat; the riveting hearings of the January 6^th House Select Committee; Rudy Giuliani identified as a target in the Georgia election probe along with Lindsey Graham’s inability to duck a subpoena in the same probe, etc. Perhaps, it will go on and on until the DOJ indicts our former president.

Let us be hopeful and encouraged by the advancement of the Social Security Fairness Act which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Hopefully, you all received Candice’s and my email on August 11 noting this as I am aware that some of you have reduced benefits which affect your financial standing. Remember to Write and call your Members of Congress to ask them to help repeal WEP.

I would like you to know that on August 1^st, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Chair of the Seniors Council, Steve Regenstreif, released a statement marking the 57^th anniversary of the signing of legislation that established Medicare and Medicaid. They say: “Fifty-seven years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation that established Medicare and Medicaid. As a result, millions of seniors and low-income Americans finally got the health care they needed. Since then, these programs have provided millions of Americans dignity and peace of mind — knowing affordable, quality health care is within reach...”

Also, on August 15^th DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Senior Council Chair Steve Regenstreif issued the following statement marking the 87^th anniversary of the signing of legislation that established Social Security: “Eighty-seven years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed legislation that established Social Security. In the years since, this program has kept millions of seniors, children, people with disabilities, and low-income Americans out of poverty. It is one of our nation’s greatest achievements. 

The GOP’s plan to cut Social Security — which goes hand-in-hand with their proposals to cut Medicare and threaten our health care, and their opposition to lowering costs for families — is proof that every step of the way, Republicans side with the special interests and push an extreme MAGA agenda that costs the American people.

While Republicans would put Social Security on the chopping block, Democrats will always fight to protect it. We will work to improve the benefits it provides and build on the legacy of this essential government program. We know that Social Security is too important to millions of Americans to do anything else.”

Have a good rest of the summer!