THOMPSON, FORMER SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSIONER O’MALLEY, AND PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE RICHTMAN HOST SOCIAL SECURITY TOWN HALL IN[...]

Woodland, CA - On Monday, just days ahead of the Social Security Act's 91st anniversary, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) was joined by special guest, former Commissioner for the Social Security Administration and former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, and President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Max Richtman for a town hall at the Woodland Community and Senior Center. Thompson, O'Malley, and Richtman answered questions from 4th District constituents about proposed changes to Social Security and impacts on our community.

During the town hall, Thompson received the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's signature red boxing gloves, which are given as a symbolic token to congressional champions who have demonstrated that they are fighting on behalf of American seniors and defending entitlement programs.

"I am honored to receive a pair of the National Committee's signature red boxing gloves for my work on behalf of American seniors and for defending their benefits," said Thompson. "For nearly 91 years, Social Security has been a promise to our country's workers to allow them to retire after decades of hard work. It's the most successful government program in our country's history. Social Security allows Americans to retire safely and with dignity. I'm committed to continuing my work to protect the program. I'm proud to join Commissioner O'Malley and President Richtman in this fight."

"Social Security is the most far-reaching and important act of social and economic justice that the people of the United States have ever enacted," said former Maryland Governor and Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley. "This administration's attacks on Social Security are an attack on America's promise to working people of a secure retirement. The good news is that Americans of every background are pushing back to say, 'hands off' our earned benefits, and Representative Thompson has been the strongest of champions in fighting back against this administration's efforts to undermine Social Security."

"I would like to thank Congressman Mike Thompson for his steadfast support for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Seniors and their families are facing tremendous uncertainty, and Congressman Thompson's steadfast leadership has been invaluable to CA-04," said President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Max Richtman.

Thompson has worked to oppose the President and Congressional Republicans' efforts to harm the Social Security program. Since President Trump was inaugurated, over 8,000 Social Security workers have been fired or retired, plunging the Social Security Administration to its lowest staffing levels since 1967.

These efforts make it harder for Americans to access their benefits and they harm the program's economic output. Every year, Social Security delivers $3.66 billion to residents of California's 4th District. Beneficiaries often spend that money locally, boosting our economy. Efforts to privatize the program or reduce benefits risk not just the wellbeing of recipients but also risk the financial wellbeing of our entire community.

Rep. Thompson is working to protect Americans' access to Social Security.

This Congress, Rep. Thompson has coauthored bills and worked with his colleagues to oppose the Administration's cuts and changes to Social Security, including joining a Resolution of Inquiry to demand answers from the Social Security Administration on their proposed mass layoffs and closures of field and regional offices.

Rep. Thompson remains committed to working on behalf of Fourth District residents to protect the critical services they rely on every day and to strengthen our democracy.