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Category: National

  • Larson Demands Chairman Smith Hold an Immediate Markup on Larson-led Social Security Data Privacy Legislation

    Larson Demands Chairman Smith Hold an Immediate Markup on Larson-led Social Security Data Privacy Legislation

    From the website of Congressman Larson:

    Today, Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) wrote to Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) demanding an immediate markup for Ranking Member Larson’s Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act. 

    “There is no reason why unqualified outside individuals need immediate and urgent access to non-anonymized SSA data, which includes Social Security numbers, income history, and personal medical records. The American people deserve to have their private information kept confidential,” Larson wrote. 

    “The Committee must immediately take action to protect Americans’ private and confidential information,” Larson concluded. “Failure to act to protect this information would be a dereliction of our oversight responsibility and an endorsement of the Trump Administration’s illegal, irresponsible, and reckless disregard for Americans’ privacy and liberty.” 

    Last Friday, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned order overturning a district court’s order blocking ‘DOGE’ personnel from accessing the Social Security Administration’s systems while a lawsuit challenging their access makes its way through the courts. Rep. Larson’s Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act would block political appointees and ‘special government employees,’ like Elon Musk and his ‘DOGE,’ from accessing these sensitive data systems at the Social Security Administration. It would also codify existing privacy requirements in law for beneficiary data, ensuring that only Congress can change them, and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for any privacy and disclosure violations of Social Security beneficiaries’ personal information.    

    Larson’s full letter to Chairman Smith is available HERE and below: 

    Dear Chairman Smith, 

    In light of last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling that DOGE should be granted access to Americans’ private and confidential Social Security information, I urge you to immediately convene a markup on H.R. 1877 – the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act. 

    On Friday, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned order overturning a district court’s order that barred DOGE personnel from accessing the Social Security Administration’s systems until a lawsuit challenging their access makes its way through the courts. This decision should alarm everyone. There is no reason why unqualified outside individuals need immediate and urgent access to non-anonymized SSA data, which includes Social Security numbers, income history, and personal medical records. The American people deserve to have their private information kept confidential. 

    The Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act would stop DOGE, political appointees, and ‘special government employees’ like Elon Musk from accessing sensitive data systems at SSA. It would also codify SSA data privacy requirements into law, ensuring that only Congress can change them, and strengthen oversight and civil penalties for any privacy and disclosure violations of Social Security beneficiaries’ personal information.  

    The Committee must immediately take action to protect Americans’ private and confidential information. Failure to act to protect this information would be a dereliction of our oversight responsibility and an endorsement of the Trump Administration’s illegal, irresponsible, and reckless disregard for Americans’ privacy and liberty. 

  • Letter from John Larson: Preventing Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid

    Letter from John Larson: Preventing Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid

    From the office of John Larson:

    Dear Friends, 

    Now that House Republicans passed their tax plan – by one vote – it heads to the Senate. I voted NO because it would cut the health care and benefits millions of Americans rely on to pay for tax cuts that largely benefit the wealthy. A new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that if this bill becomes law, the deficit will go up by $2.4 trillion over the next decade and 16 million Americans would lose their Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage.

    As the Senate takes up the bill, they are likely to make changes, which means the House will have to vote again before it can go to President Trump’s desk. Along with cuts to Medicaid, their plan could trigger $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. Senate Republicans are considering additional changes to Medicare coverage and benefits as well. How would you be impacted by cuts to Medicare? I invite you to share your story with me HERE.

    Thank you to everyone who joined me in Berlin, Manchester, West Hartford, and Wethersfield at forums to discuss what this bill would mean for our communities and the path forward in the Senate. I look forward to continuing these conversations on the path forward and my efforts to not cut but strengthen programs like Medicare and Social Security. You can view a recording of my forum in West Hartford below.

    • Connecticut Department of Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves shared with us the impact these cuts would have on our state. She outlined how coverage for dental and vision care, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and cancer treatments could be rolled back for residents with a Husky Health plan if this bill is enacted – the largest cut to Medicaid in the program’s history. 
    • Jennifer Cavallaro, State Operations Director of Mosaic, shared how these cuts would impact residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said, “The proposed changes would result in longer waiting lists for home and community-based services. We already have more than 3,500 people on a waiting list, often in institutional settings or home with caregivers who really cannot provide the care.” 

    I have heard directly from so many of you about how the Trump Administration’s policies, cuts, and proposals are impacting you or your loved ones. You can read some of these stories HERE and I invite you to share yours HERE. As your representative in Congress, I remain committed to doing everything I can to hold this Administration accountable and defeat their tax plan that is a bad deal for the American people. 

    To follow what I’m working on both in Washington and in Connecticut, visit my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or follow me on Instagram.     

    Regards,
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    John B. Larson
    Member of Congress