After a lifetime of hard work, every person deserves to retire with security and peace of mind.

Right now, we have seniors choosing between groceries and prescription medications. We have 75-year-olds working at grocery stores not because they want to stay busy, but because they can't afford to live on Social Security alone.

No person over the age of 70 should have to work just to survive. Our seniors helped shape this country, paid taxes, and contributed to Social Security their entire working lives. They've earned the right to age with dignity.

Here's what aging with dignity looks like:

• Expanding and investing more in Social Security so benefits actually cover the cost of living, and fighting back against any effort to privatize it. This isn't charity - it's honoring the promise we made to workers who paid into the system.

• Lowering prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies and capping out-of-pocket costs.

• Protecting Medicare from privatization schemes that put profits over patients.

• Increasing funding for senior services including meal programs, transportation, and home healthcare.

Growing old shouldn't mean growing poor.

With the right policies, all seniors can age with dignity in East Tennessee.