Gillibrand Addresses Issues Impacting Seniors, Caregivers in Town Hall

WSKG-FM reports that U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) answered questions from AARP members Thursday concerning legislation addressing issues affecting seniors. A member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, she said making long-term care more accessible and affordable is a leading priority. Gillibrand also said she supported legislation that would reimburse family caregivers who tend to a loved one at home. She stated that full-time caregivers should receive social security payments commensurate to what is provided to support people with disabilities. Gillibrand also said Congress and the President should revise campaign finance law to relax pharmaceutical lobbyists' hold on drug policy, so that lawmakers are less inclined to oppose prescription drug price reductions. When queried as to what she will do about robocall scams that exploit seniors, the senator addressed what she described as a gap in national cybersecurity efforts, noting that "there's nobody doing domestic cyber protection against foreign adversaries right now. It's a big hole in our system." Gillibrand said many of these calls originate from abroad.