Leader Pelosi & House Democratic Women: No Benefit Cuts
This afternoon, Leader Pelosi and other House Democratic women held a press conference calling for a balanced agreement to reduce the deficit that strengthens Medicare and Social Security for beneficiaries and discussed the disproportionate impact cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits would have on women. Leader Pelosi:
Today, we are gathered here as the Democratic women Members of Congress to recognize a moment of opportunity and responsibility. We are committed to a balanced, bipartisan approach to the budget resolution that is fair to the middle class, honors the dignity of our seniors and their retirement, creates jobs, and educates our children as we reduce the deficit.Today, the Democratic women of Congress have come together to send a very clear message: We must protect Medicare and Social Security. We will not support cuts. Social Security and Medicare, as well as the concern that we have for cost shifting, etc. in Medicaid. Congress will not sacrifice these vital pillars of economic and health security of our society and our economy in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy, subsidies to Big Oil, and tax breaks to corporations that send jobs overseas.
Upholding the bedrock promise of Medicare and Social Security is vital to our country's women. Women are families' primary caregivers and health providers. Women live longer, have lower incomes, and have more chronic conditions—making Medicare even more vital to their well-being. Women overwhelmingly depend on Social Security. Without it, half of the women over 65 would fall into poverty. More than 3 million children receive Social Security benefits—3 million children.
Those standing here have an understanding of the stakes in this debate because we represent the diversity of our great country. The Democratic Caucus, I remind you, has 100 Members, over half of our Caucus is women or minorities, and over half of that 100 are women.
We know firsthand the impact the changes in Medicare. We know it because we are women and caregivers, and we know it because of the people we represent. We know it because of the special interest we have taken in this bedrock of security for women and families in our country. And so we bring knowledge, experience and urgency to this debate.
So on behalf of all of America's women, families, and our middle class, we will continue to work toward an agreement that brings more stability to our economy, creates jobs, promotes growth, respects the dignity of retirement for our seniors, the education of our children, again, as we reduce the deficit.
As Leader Pelosi said, women would be particularly hurt by benefit cuts—here are some facts on why the Medicare and Social Security are so critical to women:
MEDICAREWomen represent 56 percent of the Medicare population.Among the oldest Medicare beneficiaries (ages 85 and older), 70 percent are women.
49 percent of women on Medicare have three or more chronic health conditions, compared to 38 percent of men.
16 percent of Medicare beneficiaries reach the prescription drug ‘donut hole' coverage gap each year. Women are more likely than men to end up in the ‘donut hole.'
57 percent of women on Medicare live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, compared to 45 percent of men.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security is virtually the only source of income for three in ten women on Social Security who are 65 and older, compared to two in ten men.Among Social Security beneficiaries 80 and older, Social Security is virtually the only source of income for 38 percent of women on Social Security, compared to 25 percent for men.
The average Social Security benefit for women 65 and older is only about $12,000 per year, compared to nearly $16,000 for men 65 and older.
Without Social Security, half of women 65 and older would be poor.
Social Security provides benefits to 3.1 million children and lifted 1.1 million children out of poverty in 2009.
Read Leader Pelosi's full opening remarks and a transcript of the question and answer session»