United States Senate Special Committee On Aging
Recent News About United States Senate Special Committee On Aging
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Ranking Member Braun Outlines Senate Aging Committee Priorities for FY 2025
Ranking Member Mike Braun has released the top priorities for the Senate Special Committee on Aging for fiscal year (FY) 2025. In a letter addressed to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, Senator Braun highlighted key areas of focus for the committee.Senator Braun emphasized the importance of sustaining essential programs for seniors such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, along with improving retirement security and standing up for seniors in the gig economy. He also stressed the need to reduce barriers for...
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Ranking Member Braun’s Opening Statement at Long-Term Care Workforce Hearing
Washington, April 16th, 2024 - Today, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Mike Braun made a powerful opening statement at the Long-Term Care Workforce Hearing, alongside Chairman Bob Casey. The hearing focused on addressing shortages and improving the profession within the long-term care workforce.During his remarks, Braun emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "By 2030, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in our history." He also pointed out the existing shortage of long-term care workers, noting that it is expected to...
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Senator Braun sends letter to Ginnie Mae on Reverse Mortgage Failure
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Braun has taken action by sending a letter to Alanna McCargo, the Acting President of the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), to address the challenges arising in HUD's Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program. The program, commonly known as the reverse mortgage program, has faced difficulties due to the bankruptcy of a key company, prompting concerns about the financial security of seniors.Senator Braun, in his letter, expressed his concerns about the impact of recent failures on older homeowners, stating, "Reverse...
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Senator Braun Announces GAO Audit to Uncover Medicare Fraud
Senator Mike Braun, during an appearance on Fox Business, revealed that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has accepted his request to audit Medicare in light of recent reports on Medicare fraud. Braun expressed his frustration at the inefficiency and rampant fraud within the system, stating, “Listen to this, $2.7 billion a year on urinary catheters. Part of $60 billion a year and the Medicare trust fund goes broke in four years. The ineptitude of these agencies and the amount of waste and fraud is unbelievable.”In addition to the audit announcement, Senator Braun...
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Braun, Baldwin lead bipartisan bill to ease barriers to farmland ownership for next generation
U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Tammy Baldwin have introduced the bipartisan Farm Transition Act of 2024 aimed at breaking down barriers to farming and agricultural land ownership, providing opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Senator Braun emphasized the importance of securing America's food security, stating, "A lot of farms are going to go up for sale and we need to make sure that America isn’t bought up acre by acre by foreign competitors." Senator Baldwin echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of Wisconsin's farmland and the need...
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Ranking Member Braun Presses SSA on E-Signatures for Beneficiaries
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Braun pressed Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) electronic signature response at the Aging Committee hearing on Wednesday. In December, Ranking Member Braun and Chairman Casey wrote a letter to the SSA on the lack of compliance with congressional and executive direction to allow e-signatures for beneficiaries.E-signatures, as highlighted by Ranking Member Braun, allow seniors and people with disabilities to sign forms electronically, without having to print the form and physically take...
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Senators Braun, Cassidy, and Manchin Introduce Legislation to Protect Social Security
U.S. Senators Mike Braun, Bill Cassidy, M.D., and Joe Manchin have teamed up to introduce the Save Our Seniors Act, aimed at safeguarding the long-term solvency of Social Security. The bill proposes that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) includes a more realistic projection of the program's financial health in its annual ten-year economic outlook.Senator Mike Braun emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Every American needs to know the facts about our nation’s dire financial situation. Social Security trust fund is on the way to going bust, and...
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Ranking Member Braun Voices Concerns at Social Security Hearing
Ranking Member Mike Braun expressed serious concerns during the Social Security Hearing regarding the current state of Social Security services for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Braun highlighted the pressing issues faced by beneficiaries and their families, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the challenges.Braun pointed out the significant customer service crisis within the Social Security Administration, noting the billions of dollars lost in overpayments and the distressing delays and backlogs impacting individuals in need. He...
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Braun, R. Scott, and Vance Call for Full Audit of Medicare Following $2.7 Billion Catheter Fraud
Senator Mike Braun, in response to reports of Medicare fraud, stated, “The victims of Medicare fraud are often the most vulnerable Americans. I’m calling for a full audit of Medicare so we can get to the bottom of the rampant fraud, waste, and abuse. American seniors deserve better.”In a joint effort, Senators Rick Scott and J.D. Vance have joined Senator Braun in demanding an audit of Medicare to address the concerning issue of fraud within the system. The Senators highlighted the urgency of the situation, pointing out the substantial financial threat Medicare fraud...
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Braun and Colleagues Call on DEA to Raise Awareness of Senior Overdoses
U.S. Senators Mike Braun, Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Pete Ricketts, and J.D. Vance, members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, have written a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, urging the agency to improve its prevention efforts for older Americans and raise awareness of senior overdoses.The senators emphasized the need for tailored prevention messages to protect older Americans from synthetic drugs like fentanyl. They highlighted the fact that the nation's drug crisis is increasingly a synthetics crisis, and older Americans...
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Braun, R. Scott Oppose DOL Independent Contractor Rule
U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Rick Scott have expressed their opposition to the Department of Labor's (DOL) Independent Contractor Rule in a letter addressed to Acting Secretary Julie Su. In the letter, the Senators outline their concerns about the rule's impact on the gig economy and its potential to limit opportunities for older Americans.The Senators argue that the Independent Contractor Rule, which provides guidelines for classifying independent workers as employees, will have a detrimental effect on independent work. They cite experts and stakeholders who have warned...
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Ranking Member Braun Highlights Challenges and Solutions in Assisted Living Facilities
Today, Sen. Mike Braun, Ranking Member of the U.S. Special Committee on Aging, addressed the committee's hearing on "Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults." The hearing focused on the current state of assisted living facilities in the United States and explored topics such as services provided, costs and fees, and the workforce.Sen. Braun emphasized the need for affordable, safe, and high-quality long-term care as the aging population continues to grow. He highlighted the importance of assisted living facilities as an option for...
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Braun, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Target Medicare Fraud
U.S. Senators Braun and Cassidy have introduced legislation aimed at addressing the issue of Medicare fraud. The bill proposes the implementation of an algorithm-based pilot period of oversight at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), specifically targeting the irregular billing activity of certain products for the 5% of beneficiaries who already receive electronic notices.Medicare fraud is a significant problem, with an estimated annual loss of $60 billion. This loss is attributed to both predatory healthcare professionals and anonymous organized criminals...