BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 8 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) welcomed comments on Sunday from Reince Priebus, the incoming White House chief of staff, that President-elect Donald Trump would not “meddle with Medicare or Social Security.” Sanders said, however, that Trump must go further.  

Trump must make it clear to Republicans in Congress that he would veto any legislation that contradicted his campaign promise not to cut those programs, Sanders said

“At a time when the Republican leadership is working overtime to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, the statement by Mr. Priebus is just not good enough. Mr. Trump must make it clear to the American people that he will keep the promises he made during the campaign and veto any legislation that cuts Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” Sanders said.

The Republican budget resolution that the Senate is scheduled to vote on this week could lead to 30 million Americans losing their health insurance, increased prescription drug prices, the end of Medicare as we know it and could threaten nursing home care for millions of seniors by cutting Medicaid. Moreover, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas), who chairs the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security, has introduced legislation that would increase the retirement age and make devastating cuts to Social Security.

Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, has scheduled a vote Tuesday on a budget amendment that would prevent the Senate from breaking Trump’s campaign promise to not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Sanders’ amendment is co-sponsored by 29 other senators and is endorsed by the AARP, the AFL-CIO, Paralyzed Veterans of America and dozens of other groups represented by millions of Americans.