Russ Feingold for United States Senate

Russ meets supporters at his annual picnic in his hometown of Middleton, Wisconsin.

Seniors’ Issues

HONORING OUR ELDERS

"Our elders have made America what it is today and have earned our respect and admiration. We must never forget the contributions they have made and the wisdom they offer. As I travel in Wisconsin and across the country talking to seniors, I am reminded of the challenges they confront every day and am concerned that we are not doing enough. We must honor our elders, supporting them with quality, affordable health care and ensuring their financial security. Today’s seniors face medical bills and prescription drugs costs that are skyrocketing. These escalating costs of living threaten to quickly deplete lifelong savings.

Medicare and Social Security have been and will be my top fiscal priorities, bar none. I pursue my Senate work to cut government pork and reduce deficits to ensure that these vital programs will remain strong and adequately funded. We cannot risk the security of our seniors with shortsighted planning and imprudent spending. I have introduced legislation to improve Medicare coverage and to prevent the government from using Social Security funds for other programs.

As a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and now as a member of the US Senate, I have placed particular focus on the issue of long-term care for seniors. Nobody wants to be forced to leave their homes if they develop chronic illness, and our seniors deserve better. Modeled on Wisconsin's Community Options Program, I have introduced federal legislation that allows individuals with severe disabilities to remain with their families and loved ones in their own homes and communities. These reforms will utilize flexible home and community-based services to help thousands of elderly and younger people with disabilities stay out of nursing homes, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, and most important, improving lives."

ACHIEVEMENTS

Working for Seniors in the Senate: Senator Feingold serves on the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.

Recognition of Senate Voting Record: The 2.5 million-member Alliance for Retired Americans gave Senator Russ Feingold a perfect score of 100 in its 2001 Congressional Voting Record, which evaluates votes cast by members of the U.S. House and Senate based on how they voted on 10 key issues of particular importance to older and disabled Americans, including: Social Security, a Medicare prescription drug benefit, patients’ bill of rights, the fiscal year 2002 budget, and pensions.

Making Home Health Care Available for Seniors: Senator Feingold is proud to have introduced the bipartisan Home Health Nurse and Patient Act of 2001. This legislation will allow home health care providers to care for patients, ensuring that seniors can stay in their own homes longer. He was an original co-sponsor of the Medicare Home Health Equity Act of 1998. Senator Feingold also co-sponsored the bi-partisan Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act of 1999, portions of which were included in the final FY 2000 budget agreement.

Fighting for a Prescription Drug Benefit: Senator Feingold has introduced legislation that would reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and has worked to ensure that Medicare includes a prescription drug benefit.

Fighting for Wisconsin Seniors’ Fair Share of Medicare Benefits: This past January, Senator Feingold introduced Medicare Fairness Legislation into Congress to ensure that Wisconsin residents receive their fair share of Medicare benefits. Under the current Medicare system, Wisconsin residents pay the same Medicare payroll taxes as the rest of the country, but receive fewer benefits.

Helping with Utility Bills: Senator Feingold has steadfastly protected the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help seniors pay winter heating bills, a particularly important program for Wisconsinites who face sharply higher bills than most of the country.

Award for Excellence: Senator Feingold is a proud recipient of the Claude Pepper Award for Excellence at the National Council of Aging annual conference.

Perfect Voting Record: In their most recent ratings, both the National Council of Senior Citizens and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees gave Senator Feingold a perfect score of 100 for his Senate voting record.

Senators push for bill to allow drug imports, (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 6, 2004)