San Diego — Protecting and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid are among Rep. Scott Peters’ top priorities in Congress. Today, on the 49th anniversary of their creation, Peters reaffirms his commitment to them and reminds voters of his work to make sure seniors continue to have access to affordable and reliable health care.Peters is a member of the Democratic Caucus Seniors Task Force and was recently recognized by a health-care advocacy group for his work to keep prescription drugs affordable for seniors.“Medicare and Medicaid are a lifeline for many seniors,” Rep. Peters said. “Seniors who have spent decades paying into them deserve the peace of mind of knowing the benefits they’ve earned through a lifetime of hard work will be there for them.”In sharp contrast, Carl DeMaio has praised Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal that would turn Medicare into a voucher program.Peters has taken numerous steps during his first term in Congress to make sure seniors have health-care security. He successfully fought against drastic cuts to the Medicare Advantage Program by meeting with a group of leaders including White House officials and the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.His successful efforts to protect Medicare’s Part D affordable prescription drug coverage earned him praise from the Healthcare Leadership Council, which wrote: “Thanks to Medicare Part D, seniors and the disabled get coverage plans. And thanks to Representative Scott Peters, we can all still rely on that.Rep. Peters also voted to ensure that doctors continue to receive reimbursements that allow them to provide Medicare recipients with high-quality health care. And he co-sponsored the Preventing and Reducing Improper Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures Act, which helps keep these benefits sustainable by cracking down on fraud and abuse.Over and over again, Rep. Peters has been clear and vocal in his opposition to turning Medicare into a private voucher system, noting that such a system will produce a spike in out-of-pocket healthcare costs for seniors.