ICYMI: In Tucson, Sen. Kelly and Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley Host Town Hall Highlighting Republican Attacks on Social Security and Medicaid 

While in Tucson, Kelly also provided a “Capitol Hill update” to Southern Arizona leaders at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

In case you missed it, yesterday, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley joined Arizonans at a town hall in Tucson to highlight how the Trump administration is making it harder for Americans to receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned. They also discussed Trump’s new law, which throws more than 300,000 Arizonans off their health insurance, raises the cost of care, and undermines the future solvency of Social Security and Medicare—all to give massive tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. 

Sen. Kelly speaks at a town hall in Tucson

During the town hall, Kelly heard from Garrett Newell, a 23-year-old college student with cerebral palsy who has relied on Medicaid for medical care since childhood, and on Social Security disability to get to and from doctors’ appointments and classes. Garrett told Kelly: “Because of Social Security, I get that money that helps me pay for things like Uber in order to go to these doctor appointments or go to school, which is very important because I want to be a productive citizen. For me, I consider Social Security a fundamental tradition in this American experiment.” 

Kelly also heard directly from Luci, a retired teacher who relies on Social Security to care for her 91-year-old mother, a retired teacher’s assistant, without having to choose between caregiving and working. Luci said “My 91-year-old mother is also very happy to celebrate Social Security. […] It allows me to help my mother stay in her home. Social Security is something that we paid for. It’s ours. How dare they? And that’s why it’s so important that we not be silent and that we speak up and that we do whatever we can do, however small or large, but we have to do it together.” 

Sen. Kelly hears from Garrett, a Tucsonan who relies on Social Security.  

Yesterday, Kelly also provided a “Capitol Hill update” for local business and community leaders with the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. There, Kelly discussed his work in Washington to protect Arizona’s economy, veterans, and health care system. He also warned about the far-reaching consequences of Trump’s Medicaid cuts, including the loss of coverage for hundreds of thousands of Arizona seniors and families, and increased strain on providers and rural hospitals across Southern Arizona. 

Sen. Kelly speaks to the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce