Sen. Bernie Sanders continued his fight this week to ensure all retirees can live comfortable and secure lives. Sanders introduced a plan to restore pensions, which could be cut up to 65 percent under a law passed last year, to 10 million retirees. Following the release of a study by the Government Accountability Office that found that nearly 4 million seniors go hungry, Sanders said, “It is not acceptable that millions of elderly in this country are living in poverty and struggling to feed themselves.” On Thursday, Sanders cheered Pope Francis’ “powerful message on climate change” and responded to the killings at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, calling the shooting “an act of terror” and a “reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation.” Sanders also vowed to defeat the disastrous 12-nation Pacific-Rim trade deal being pushed by President Barack Obama when it returns to the Senate.

Sanders Introduces Plan to Restore Pensions

Joined by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Teamsters at a press conference on Thursday, Sanders unveiled legislation that reverses a proposal passed last year that could result in deep pension cuts for retirees and workers in multi-employer pension plans. “Hard-working retirees should not ever have to doubt their retirement security,” Sanders said. “We made a commitment 40 years ago to workers in this country that companies will never renege on a pension promise.  We need to restore that commitment.” Sanders’ plan will protect the pensions of up to 10 million Americans. Read more here.

Millions of Seniors Go Hungry, GAO Finds

A study prepared for Sanders by the Government Accountability Office found that nearly 4 million low-income seniors – more than 1 in 5 – do not know where their next meal is coming from. The GAO found that fewer than 10 percent of low-income seniors who needed a meal delivered to their homes in 2013 received one. “A nation is judged by how it cares for its most vulnerable including the elderly and children. It is not acceptable that millions of elderly in this country are living in poverty and struggling to feed themselves,” Sanders said. “Instead of giving tax breaks to billionaires we should be expanding nutrition programs and other services for seniors.” Sanders has called for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Read more here.

Pope Francis’ Moral Message on Climate Change 

Pope Francis issued an encyclical on climate change on Tuesday, urging world leaders to take responsibility for addressing the global climate crisis. As one of the leading voices in Congress on climate change, Sanders welcomed the pope’s message saying, “Pope Francis’ powerful message on climate change should change the debate around the world and become a catalyst for the bold actions needed to reverse global warming. The pope helps us all see how those with the least among us will fare the worst from the consequences of climate change.” Read more here.

Charleston Church Shootings

In Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday evening, a white man killed nine people at a black church. Following the horrific shooting, Sanders said, “The Charleston church killings are a tragic reminder of the ugly stain of racism that still taints our nation.  This senseless violence fills me with outrage, disgust and a deep, deep sadness.  The hateful killing of nine people praying inside a church is a horrific reminder that, while we have made significant progress in advancing civil rights in this country, we are far from eradicating racism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their congregation.”  Read more here.

House Passes Pacific Rim Trade Agreement 

After the House, in an about face, revived a bill to give President Barack Obama authority to send Congress trade agreements it can reject or ratify but not change, Sanders said, “I am extremely disappointed but not surprised that the House put the interests of powerful multi-national corporations, drug companies and Wall Street ahead of the needs of American workers. I will work to defeat the measure once and for all when the bill returns to the Senate.” The legislation, according to Sanders, “will make it easier for corporations to abandon the United States and move good-paying American jobs to low-wage countries overseas.” Read more here.