Political Quotes

“Older Americans want to spend their golden years living in dignity. For many, that means being able to stay in their own homes. In concert with the White House Conference on Aging, this week I met with a group of home care workers that turned that wish into a reality. They work tirelessly to cook meals, help with therapies, make sure medication is taken properly, and help people live under their own roof. The work of caregivers is so valuable, so I want to call on this Congress to actually value them. What does it say when the people who care about our most vulnerable--our parents and our grandparents--are so poorly compensated? One of the caregivers I met with expressed that her pay was so low she wasn't building up enough in Social Security to retire, herself. We need to work for better wages and for the notion that, when someone works overtime, they get paid overtime. We need to expand training and apprenticeship opportunities so those working hard in these demanding positions can move up. Mr. Speaker, I have a grandmother who is now 105 years old. I want the caregivers taking care of her and her generation and future generations to know that we respect what they do, not just with words, but with policies and pay that supports them. ____________________”