Our elders built this district; they deserve to age with dignity, stability, and care. I’ll fight to protect Social Security and Medicare, lower prescription drug costs, expand home- and community-based care, and ensure every senior in the 7th can live a full and supported life.

In Illinois’ 7th Congressional District, nearly one in five residents is over the age of 60, and far too many are struggling to make ends meet. The average Social Security benefit barely covers the cost of rent in Chicago, and prescription drug prices have more than tripled over the past decade. In neighborhoods like Austin and Lawndale, many seniors live on fixed incomes in aging housing stock that’s unsafe or inaccessible, while vital programs like Meals on Wheels and in-home care remain underfunded.

Our elders deserve better.

They deserve the peace of mind they have earned through a lifetime of work and contribution. That’s why I will protect and expand Social Security and Medicare, not cut them. I’ll oppose any effort to raise the retirement age or privatize these essential programs. Instead, I’ll support the Social Security 2100 Act (H.R. 4583), which strengthens the trust fund, expands benefits, and ensures every senior can retire with dignity.

I will also champion the Medicare for All Act (H.R. 3421), ensuring that every senior and every person has full coverage for vision, dental, hearing, and long-term care. No one should have to skip medication or delay care because of cost.

To make prescription drugs affordable, I’ll build on the Inflation Reduction Act’s progress by supporting legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate all drug prices and cap insulin costs at $35 for everyone, not just those on Medicare.

Aging with dignity also means being able to remain safely in your home and community. I’ll co-sponsor the Better Care Better Jobs Act, which expands funding for home- and community-based services (HCBS) so that older adults can receive care at home, caregivers can earn living wages, and families can breathe easier knowing their loved ones are supported.

For seniors facing housing insecurity, I’ll support the Affordable Housing for Seniors Act, which expands Section 202 housing programs and invests in retrofitting public housing for accessibility and energy efficiency.

And because too many of our elders live in isolation, I’ll push for federal investment in senior centers, digital literacy programs, and mental health supports to combat loneliness and strengthen intergenerational connections across our communities.

Our elders are the backbone of this district: veterans, retired teachers, caregivers, and lifelong organizers who fought for the rights we now enjoy. We owe them more than survival; we owe them joy, security, and respect.

In Congress, I’ll make sure every senior in Illinois’ 7th District can age with dignity, surrounded by care, community, and love.