VIDEO: Rep. Stansbury Fights for New Mexico Seniors, Social Security
New bill aims to protect the integrity, accessibility, public ownership of the Social Security Administration.
ALBUQUERQUE — Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) kept fighting on Thursday against President Trump and DOGE efforts to slash Social Security Administration staffing, close administration field offices, and mine beneficiaries’ personal data during a press conference on the introduction of the Hands Off Our Social Security Act.
The bill also responds to recent Supreme Court rulings allowing DOGE to expanded access to Social Security information.
Find photos and videos here.
"Social Security is one of the most successful social safety net programs in American history. It has saved countless Americans. It has allowed our seniors to live the life they deserve to live and to live life with dignity," Congresswoman Stansbury said. “Social security is the lifeline that keeps people from living in poverty. We must do everything we can to protect it, especially now, as we know, the current administration is openly talking about dismantling key pieces of social security and privatizing aspects of it.”
“When we talk about protecting social security, we're talking about supporting retirees and workers who are fighting every day for a little retirement security,” said John “JD” Doran, AFSCME retiree and 2nd VP of the NM Alliance. “You have no idea what retirement security means until you retire and find out you don't have it. We're trying to prevent that from happening. Social Security contributes more than three million dollars to New Mexico's economy every month – that's what keeps this state strong.”
Today also marks Honor Our Veterans Day of Action, a day where House Democrats across the country are reaffirming their commitment to veterans and their families.
As Donald Trump and House Republicans cut services and make life harder for veterans and their families, Congresswoman Stansbury will always honor our nation’s veterans by fighting to fully fund the Veterans Administration and ensuring our heroes get the benefits they deserve.
The Congresswoman knows that veterans have proudly served America and defended our freedom. She is working every day to provide them with the care and benefits they earned through their service.
"Social security is pretty much a lifesaver for us, because without the VA benefits, would be paying out for Medicare B premiums, which are not cheap,” said Gary Brault, a U.S. Army veteran. “I hope it doesn’t go away because that would really hurt.”
Social Security cuts would directly impact the 468,030 New Mexicans that receive monthly Social Security benefits, including the:
· 345,706 who are retired workers.
· 54,280 who are disabled workers.
· 28,994 who are children.
###