Article Source: Robert Riechel

I sent the following letter to all 3 of our Washington D.C. legislators:

April 3rd 2026
 
CA Senator Padilla
CA Senator Schiff
CA Congressman Mullin
 
SUBJECT:   SAVING Social Security
I have written all 3 of you numerous times previously asking each of you the following questions:
1.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU introduced in congress to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
2.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU become a sponsor of that proposes plans to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
3.       WHAT bill(s) have YOU voted for or will vote for to SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY for us?
I received a reply from one of you of approximately 500 words that did NOT specifically address any of the above 3 questions.  I received nothing from the other 2 of you.  HOW is this representing me as a voter?
Here is what YOU each can do::
1.       Slightly increasing the employee & employer percentage of Social Security taxes both pay should put more money in the pot for future payouts.
2.       DO NOT keep raising the age at which taxpayers can begin drawing Social Security or when they can start drawing the maximum monthly social security amounts.
3.       VOTE for repaying ALL monies collected as Social Security taxes that went to or is going to non Social Security monthly payments.
4.       DRASTICALLY raise the earned wages limit subject to Social Security wages by BOTH the employee and employer. 
OR
5.       ELIMINATE the current maximum of earned wages subject to Social Security wages PERIOD.  This one action would quickly add many more dollars that can then be paid out.  Look at how many years (yes years) YOU have failed to collect additional monies to increase the amount available for monthly payouts.  These lost years of incoming dollars cannot be regained!    YOU call this acceptable representation of your constituents?
NOW I read the following:
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., proposed borrowing $1.5 trillion from the U.S. Treasury and investing that money in a diversified fund, similar to a standard 401(k) portfolio. The fund would be held in escrow for 75 years, completely separate from Social Security’s existing trust funds, according to Cassidy’s testimony at the hearing.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., reintroduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, which would apply payroll taxes to all income above $400,000. The bill would also extend the tax to investment income and close a loophole that lets some wealthy pass-
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., signaled interest in reducing or capping benefits for high-earning retirees rather than raising taxes on anyone currently working. 
WHICH of these 3 proposed bills:
DO YOU SUPPORT
WILL YOU BECOME A CO-SPONSOR OF
WILL YOU VOTE FOR
Or will you keep kicking the can down the road and NOT representing MY needs and NOT being MY working congressman?
/s/ Robert Riechel

I received Kevin's reply below:

Dear Mr. M Riechel,

Thank you for contacting me regarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts on these crucial programs with me.

Since their creation, these entitlement programs have been lifelines for millions of Americans, including low-income senior citizens, veterans, people with disabilities, and more. They make up an important social safety net and are among the most consequential programs in American history. More than one third of seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their income. Approximately half of seniors did not even have health insurance before the creation of Medicare. Today, all seniors have access to health care through Medicare, and over 80 million Americans receive healthcare through Medicaid.

As Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and House Republicans look to indiscriminately slash funding, Congress must protect these vital programs. As you may know, Musk – who decried Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” – has used his influence in the Trump Administration to threaten our Social Security benefits. His so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced plans to close 47 regional Social Security Administration (SSA) offices across the country. The SSA, at Musk’s direction, also announced that it will lay off 7,000 employees – about 12% of its staff – while the agency’s staffing level is already at a 50-year low. Further cuts and closures will likely lead to confusion, delays, and de facto benefit cuts. To fight back, I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the Social Security Commissioner urging him to halt Trump and Musk’s plan to gut Social Security. I also cosponsored H.R.1876, the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, which would prevent the Administration from closing any SSA field or hearing offices.

I am also deeply disturbed by DOGE’s attempts to invade American’s privacy and gain access to sensitive personal data from the Department of Treasury, including Social Security, and Medicare payment systems. People are rightfully fearful about what Musk will do with this information. That is why I joined my fellow House Democrats in introducing the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which would require an individual to receive a security clearance, partake in cybersecurity training, make an ethics commitment, and demonstrate they have no conflicts of interest before gaining access to the Treasury Department’s payment system and data. If passed, this bill would curb corruption and protect privacy by ensuring that only trusted public servants can access the Treasury’s most sensitive systems. I also sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent demanding information on the extent and legal justification for Elon Musk’s unprecedented level of access.

Rather than cutting social safety net programs, we should expand eligibility and benefits to bring relief to those in need. I am proud to have introduced H.R.1428, the Poverty Line Act, which would replace the outdated Federal Poverty Line (FPL) to account for the cost of basic needs, including housing, healthcare, and child care, and for regional differences at the county level. It is long past time to update the FPL so that people who need assistance such as Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and so many more can access it.
I have also fought to improve benefits. In the 118th Congress, I became an original cosponsor to H.R.4583, the Social Security 2100 Act, which would increase Social Security benefits by 2% for all beneficiaries, increase benefits for low-income individuals, widows, and widowers in two-income households, and improve the Cost-of-Living-Adjustment. I was also proud to advance the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two policies that reduced Social Security benefits for those who receive other benefits like state or local government pensions. A bipartisan group of my colleagues and I forced a vote on the measure, which was ultimately signed into law by President Biden. While a handful of individuals have already received an increase in benefits, more than 3.2 million qualifying beneficiaries should expect their monthly payment to rise starting in April.
Additionally, I cosponsored H.R.2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would make necessary adjustments to the payment amounts under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule by tying it to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) to better adjust for inflation. I also joined a bipartisan coalition of my colleagues in sending a letter to Congressional leadership urging immediate action to prevent a 3.37% cut to Medicare reimbursement payments from taking effect. We pay for Social Security and Medicare our entire careers, and it is only right that those who support these programs reap the benefits when they need them most.

Turning to Medicaid, Congressional Republicans recently passed their disastrous budget bill, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025. I voted NO on Trump’s Big Ugly Bill because it is a multi-trillion-dollar giveaway to billionaires and corporations at the expense of middle-class and working families. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Trump’s budget will slash over $900 billion from Medicaid, cut nearly $200 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, and eliminate critical electric vehicle and clean energy tax incentives. These tax provisions constitute the largest billionaire handout in our country’s history, and, all told, the Republican bill will add a staggering $3.4 trillion to the national debt.

This Republican legislation will force the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history. The CBO estimates that 10 million Americans will lose their health insurance because of the Republicans’ budget, including seniors, children, and people with disabilities. That figure rises to 15 million if Republicans fail to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits by the end of the year. More than 24% of Americans rely on Medicaid, making it the single largest source of health care coverage in the U.S. Locally, 172,000 of my constituents – nearly one quarter of the residents in our district – receive Medicaid coverage through California’s Medi-Cal. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 2.1 million Californians, including 28,000 of my constituents, could lose their health insurance due to OBBBA cuts and an end to premium tax credits. In California alone, over 217,000 health care workers could lose their jobs due to hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes having to close.

For months, my Democratic colleagues and I have been fighting these harmful policies. When Republicans first brought their budget to the House floor in February, I traveled directly from my hospital bed post-surgery to the airport to fly to Washington, D.C., and vote no on this disastrous proposal. In May, when Republicans jammed their Medicaid cuts through the Energy & Commerce Committee in the middle of the night, my Democratic colleagues and I fought to defend Americans’ health care for over 26 hours straight. During this meeting, I told the story of a local family that is terrified about these cuts and what they will mean for their disabled son. You can watch a clip from the meeting here.

I had hoped that some of my Republican colleagues would stand up for what is right; a mere three votes would have been enough to prevent these horrific policies. Regrettably, none came forward, and my Democratic colleagues and I were unable to stop this bill on our own. I am utterly disgusted that House Republicans chose to bend a knee to Trump instead of protecting their constituents’ best interests. They are stripping health care from the sick, taking food off the plates of hungry children, and saddling future generations with trillions of dollars in debt, all so Trump can give tax breaks to billionaires. You can watch my thoughts following the bill’s passage at this link.

Although the Big Ugly Bill has been signed into law, we must still hold Republicans accountable for their decision by forcing them to explain why they voted to strip health care from 15 million people. If you or someone you know lives in a Republican district, I encourage you to suggest they call their representative and demand an explanation, demand they host town halls, and, most importantly, demand they stand up for the everyday Americans they represent.

I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to write to me about this important issue. Constituent comments are an important part of my decision-making process. If you would like more information on my work in the 15th Congressional District, you can visit my website, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Through my website, you can send me opinions, request tours in DC, and get help on issues you might have with federal agencies. Please contact me in the future if I may be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Rep. Kevin Mullin
Member of Congress

MY QUESTION REMAINS:  What has he and others done to guarantee no cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

READERS can goto his website and from there send communications directly to him.