Photo flashback

May is Older Americans Month and makes me recall that long before I was in Congress, I was a volunteer and an advocate for our seniors.

I remember delivering meals with Loaves & Fishes to seniors who were homebound, who often just needed a smiling face and a kind word as much as they needed a warm meal.

It was the conversations that happened in countless doorways and kitchens and living rooms that led me to co-found the Oregon Gray Panthers and stand up for our seniors.

I saw first-hand the poverty and isolation that some seniors face. I heard their fears – like losing their homes, paying for medication, and leaving debt to their families. At the same time, they had hope for the future. Hope that they could enjoy their retirement with dignity and spend precious time with their families.

A lot has changed, but we’re still fighting many of the same fights.

The Trump Administration threatens to privatize Social Security, go back on the Medicare guarantee, and make prescription drugs unaffordable – all broken campaign promises. I won’t let these attacks on seniors go unanswered.

It’s Older Americans Month – but for me, this fight goes on every single day, all year round. Thank you for being there with me.