Advocating for Our Seniors
Our seniors have devoted their lives to our families and to bettering our neighborhoods for the next generation. It is our obligation to ensure that they continue to have a strong voice in the community.
In Prince George’s County, seniors, especially low-income seniors, are severely overburdened by high taxes from the County and State. I believe that we must alleviate these taxes from seniors, many of who have been strong and active anchors in their communities for decades past. I also know many seniors have been living paycheck to paycheck in the wake of COVID-19.
As Vice Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, it was a personal priority of mine to take action and bring immediate relief to our residents who need it most. With our State’s budget surplus this year, we were able to pass $2 Billion in important tax cuts that will benefit working families and seniors across the State, including the Retirement Tax Elimination Act. This legislation creates a $1,000 tax credit for seniors who make less than $100,000 in retirement and/or earned income, and a $1,750 credit for married couples making less than $175,000.
While drafting the 2022 State Budget, I also worked with my colleagues to expand services for our seniors. Here are a few key programs that I fought to ensure were included:
- $12.1 million for the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program,
- $2.4 million for the Senior Centers Capital Grant Program, and
- $525,000 for the Senior Call-Check Service and Notification Program.