PITTSTON, PA — Dan Adcock from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) joined Rep. Matt Cartwright and Mayor Michael Lombardo for a discussion with Luzerne County seniors. Adcock announced the organization’s decision to endorse Rep. Cartwright again this cycle, praising his work to protect and improve these programs.

Adcock said that Rep. Cartwright has a 100% voting card from the NCPSSM, meaning he has always voted to preserve Social Security and Medicare. Adcock emphasized that Cartwright is the only candidate in PA-08’s congressional race with a plan “to extend solvency and improve benefits,” by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.

Rep. Cartwright also spoke about the urgency of fixing Social Security, before the program’s expected budget shortfall in 2035. “If you can’t pay your bills,” he said, “that means you have to cut benefits.” Cartwright has championed legislation in Congress which would resolve Social Security’s budget shortfall, improving benefits. Cartwright noted that while many politicians in DC like to thump their chests about protecting Social Security, “you’ve got to press them on it.” If they “don’t do anything,” he said, “you’re voting for a cut for benefits.”

Adcock also commended Rep. Cartwright’s work to add hearing benefits to Medicare, calling his proposed HEAR Act, a “game changer.” NIH research, he said, shows a link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. Covering hearing benefits could improve quality of life for seniors and their families, while providing preventive health care that saves Medicare billions down the line.

Adcock presented Rep. Cartwright with a pair of boxing gloves when endorsing him, to prepare him to fight for seniors in Washington, DC.