Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) announced the reintroduction of his Protect Our Seniors Act, a legislative effort aimed at preserving and protecting Social Security and Medicare for millions of Americans who rely on these critical programs.
The bill comes in response to concerns over the financial stability of these entitlements, which Senator Scott argues have been pushed closer to insolvency due to the Biden-Harris administration’s policies and high inflation.
As Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Scott emphasized the importance of safeguarding these programs for seniors, particularly in his home state of Florida, which has one of the largest populations of retirees in the nation.
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“As Florida’s U.S. Senator and the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, preserving the benefits of Social Security and Medicare is one of my top priorities,” Scott said. “So many Floridians depend on these programs, and after four long years of Joe Biden’s reckless policies and high inflation pushing them closer to insolvency, we must take action to protect them and keep our promises to beneficiaries.”
The Protect Our Seniors Act includes several measures designed to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare while protecting the benefits of current and future recipients. Key provisions of the bill include:
- Establishing a Budget Point of Order: The bill creates a Budget Point of Order against any legislation that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determines would reduce or cut existing Medicare and Social Security benefits. This rule would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate to bypass, making it significantly harder for Congress to enact cuts to these programs.
- Protecting Medicare Savings: The legislation amends CBO scoring laws to ensure that any savings generated within the Medicare program cannot be used to offset or pay for spending outside of Medicare. This provision directly addresses concerns that Medicare savings have been diverted to fund unrelated projects, such as those included in the Inflation Reduction Act and the infrastructure bill.
Senator Scott criticized the previous Biden administration and congressional Democrats for using Medicare savings as a funding mechanism for other initiatives, including Green New Deal projects.
“This tactic was used by Democrats for the ‘infrastructure bill’ as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, where Medicare savings were used as ‘pay-fors’ for Green New Deal projects and other wasteful spending,” Scott noted. “My bill will put an end to this practice and ensure that Medicare savings stay within the Medicare program.”
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Senator Scott framed the Protect Our Seniors Act as part of a broader effort to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington and ensure the federal government keeps its promises to seniors. “My bill will safeguard the benefits of these critical entitlements and promote their long-term solvency,” Scott said.
“I’ll be working closely with my colleagues on the Committee and President Trump to get this bill passed, grow our economy to improve the long-term health of Social Security and Medicare, and make Washington work better for our seniors.”
Scott also expressed optimism about the future, stating, “Together with President Trump, we can bring our nation into its golden age for all Americans, including those enjoying their golden years of life.”
The reintroduction of the Protect Our Seniors Act comes amid ongoing debates about the future of Social Security and Medicare, both of which face significant financial challenges.
According to recent reports, the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be depleted by 2034, while the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund could run out of funds by 2028. These looming deadlines have sparked calls for reform from both sides of the aisle, though proposals often differ sharply along partisan lines.
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