Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Rep. Pocan is committed to using his life experience to fight for policies that promote economic and social justice and support the families of south central Wisconsin.
In the 117th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee; the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee; and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
In Congress, I have made the protection of critical programs for our seniors such as Social Security and Medicare one of my top priorities. The support that these programs offer has lifted millions of seniors out of poverty and provided financial security for many of our most vulnerable citizens. I believe we cannot balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. Any changes to these programs should be to make them stronger or expand them—not to cut benefits.
Our seniors continue to be pinched, and Social Security oftentimes makes up a significant portion of their revenue. In fact, one third of our seniors live almost exclusively on their social security checks. Expanding and strengthening the program will provide our seniors with greater economic security while providing a boost to our overall economy.
Medicare has helped seniors and persons with disabilities receive appropriate healthcare, and it has done so with far lower administrative costs than private insurance. Our senior citizens cannot afford to lose the health and economic security protections that Medicare provides. I will do everything I can to protect this essential program.
I strongly support the basic guarantee of the Social Security and Medicare programs; a solid and stable foundation for retirement security is a right not a privilege.