Chairman Crowley Issues Statement on Social Security, Medicare Annual Reports

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-New York, issued the following statement regarding the 2018 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports:

"Today's Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report presents a bleak picture for our nation's seniors and vulnerable individuals by providing new proof that the campaign by President Trump and congressional Republicans to destroy the Affordable Care Act has had devastating impacts on Medicare.

"By repealing the individual mandate, driving up individual market premiums, and increasing the rate of uncompensated care, the Republican tax bill has threatened the future health care by cutting the life of the Medicare trust fund by three years. This is irresponsible governing from Republicans.

"Still, today's report provides evidence that Social Security is an essential program, which makes it all the more important that Congress focuses on ways to grow, strengthen, and expand Social Security - and not succumb to efforts by Republicans to undermine and slash Americans' hard-earned benefits. This is how Democrats intend to govern. I hope Republicans will join us."