LIHU‘E — United States Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Neighbor Islands, rural O‘ahu, who earlier this month was named to a new House Seniors Task Force, is coming to Kaua‘i June 4 to hear concerns of island seniors. An American Association of
LIHU‘E — United States Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Neighbor Islands, rural O‘ahu, who earlier this month was named to a new House Seniors Task Force, is coming to Kaua‘i June 4 to hear concerns of island seniors.
An American Association of Retired Persons press release states she will be at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center at 1 p.m. to discuss the task force, the Seniors’ Bill of Rights, and other matters of concern to senior citizens.
Earlier this month, Hirono was named to a new Seniors Task Force, and the task force introduced legislation known as the Seniors’ Bill of Rights, states a Hirono press release.
The new initiatives are designed to reach out to America’s seniors in an effort to address their most pressing concerns and needs.
Hirono is one of 24 members of the Seniors Task Force, whose members are working to protect seniors’ rights as well as raise awareness of policies that will improve the health and well-being of seniors across the country, her press release states.
To accomplish this goal, the task force introduced the Seniors’ Bill of Rights, legislation that expresses Democratic support for seniors’ priorities, especially in the areas of:
— Financial and economic security;
— Quality, affordable health care;
— Protection from scams and fraud;
— Safe and livable communities.
“The Seniors Task Force will build on the accomplishments of this Congress, including strengthening Medicare and expanding coverage for prescription drugs for seniors,” Hirono said.
“I am especially interested in working on legislation to protect vulnerable seniors from fraud,” said Hirono.
“I remain committed to protecting Social Security and will be working in my Education and Labor Committee to further strengthen the Older Americans’ Act, which provides support for Meals on Wheels and essential transportation services for seniors who can’t drive or don’t have cars.”
Seniors make up close to 20 percent of Hawai‘i’s population, a number that is projected to grow to 25 percent over the next decade.
This latest effort builds upon the steps already taken by Congress to protect seniors’ retirement savings and to put a halt to financial and credit-card scams that overwhelmingly target seniors.
It also protects and upholds the promises made to all of America’s seniors to improve established programs such as Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, and to ensure their long-term solvency.
More information on Hirono’s Kaua‘i visit is available by calling the AARP Kaua‘i office, 246-4500, said Deana Shelby, president of the Kaua‘i AARP Chapter.
