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WHEREAS, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are essential parts of retirement, economic security, and adequate health care for seniors, keeping millions of Americans from living in poverty, and from dying from adequate or no care; and
WHEREAS, Social Security is one of the most effective government, anti-poverty programs ever created, lifting over 700,000 Pennsylvania seniors above the current federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania residents receive Social Security benefits totaling almost $22 billion per year, which is equal to 4 % of the state's GDP; and
WHEREAS, Social Security is a major source of life insurance and disability protection for Pennsylvania's children; and
WHEREAS, Medicare provides services to almost 2,230,000 beneficiaries in Pennsylvania, ranking our state fifth; and
WHEREAS, over 2.1 million Pennsylvanians, 16.7% of the population, receive Medicaid benefits;
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the will of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh to urge the federal government to reject without consideration any recommendation to reduce Social Security or Medicare benefits or pass on increasing costs to states for Medicaid beneficiaries; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the will of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh to remind the federal government that if Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits are cut, irreparable harm will be done to beneficiaries in Pennsylvania, hardworking Americans who have contributed from their wages and rightfully expect that they will receive benefits based on their contributions by the program.