He will continue fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – and supports strengthening these programs to make health care more affordable and accessible for all Western New Yorkers.
He will continue fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and supports strengthening these programs to make health care more affordable and accessible.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Kennedy delivered a House floor speech defending Social Security, warning against efforts to weaken benefits or privatize the program, and saying Congress should strengthen Social Security to protect the safety net and preserve dignified retirement.
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The House passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, and Kennedy is listed as voting Yea on the roll call.
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Congress.gov shows H.R. 82 became Public Law No. 118-273 on 2025-01-05, repealing the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions that reduced Social Security benefits.
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Kennedy submitted two amendments in the House Rules Committee process to prevent increased Medicaid state costs and to remove a provision that would block Medicaid funding for certain nonprofit and community health centers. The press release says the amendments were not adopted.
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Congress.gov records Kennedy as the sponsor of H.R. 4037, which was introduced to clarify Medicare coverage of occupational therapy and improve access for beneficiaries with mental health and substance use disorders; the bill was only referred to committee.
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Kennedy said his Medicare bill improves access to covered occupational therapy services for Medicare patients and ensures occupational therapists are part of the mental health workforce, framing it as a way to improve health outcomes and expand access to care.
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"Rep. Tim Kennedy (D–26th District/Erie & Niagara Counties) – Co-sponsor of legislation to: Provide greater Medicare payment stability (HR 8163)"
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"The Social Security 2100 Act changes that. It makes the wealthy pay their fair share, boosts benefits"
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"To protect our Social Security system and improve benefits for current and future generations."
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"Kennedy (NY) | Kennedy (NY) | Democratic | NY | No"
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"would increase the number of people without health insurance by 7.8 million in 2034"
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"Kennedy | Kennedy | Democratic | NY | Yea"
Assessments
Kennedy has materially acted on the promise in his federal role during the same term: he defended Social Security publicly, voted for the enacted Social Security Fairness Act, introduced a Medicare access bill, and offered Medicaid-protection amendments. But the record here does not show full delivery across Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The clearest concrete win is the Social Security law, and his documented role in that outcome is supportive rather than leading; his Medicare bill stalled in committee and his Medicaid amendments were not adopted. Under the federal credit standard, that supports partial rather than full delivery.
Kennedy took concrete same-term federal actions aligned with the promise: he voted for H.R. 82, which became law and strengthened Social Security benefits for affected retirees; he introduced Medicare access legislation; and he offered amendments aimed at protecting Medicaid access and community health centers. However, the Medicare bill remained in committee and the Medicaid amendments were not adopted, so the broader promised outcome of protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid was not fully delivered across all programs. The record supports partial fulfillment with clear effort.
Kennedy took concrete same-term federal actions aligned with the promise: he voted for enacted Social Security benefit-strengthening legislation, introduced Medicare access legislation, publicly defended Social Security, and offered amendments intended to protect Medicaid access. However, the broader promised outcome of protecting and strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid was not fully delivered across all three programs; the Medicare bill remained in committee and the Medicaid amendments were not adopted. This supports partial credit with an effort badge rather than full delivery.
Kennedy took concrete same-term actions aligned with the promise: he voted for enacted Social Security legislation that strengthened benefits for affected recipients, introduced a Medicare access bill, publicly defended Social Security, and offered Medicaid-protection amendments. However, the record does not show full delivery across Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; the Medicare bill remained in committee and the Medicaid amendments were not adopted. This supports partial fulfillment rather than full delivery.