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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    May 5, 2005

    CONTACT:
     Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
    Ouida Williams 202-216-8405

    ~ 4 Million Seniors ~ One Voice ~No Privatization ~

    James Roosevelt, Jr. receives Lifetime Achievement Award for efforts to strengthen Social Security

    Washington, D.C. — James Roosevelt, Jr. grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, will receive the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifelong efforts to preserve Social Security and Medicare. The award is part of the National Committee's annual Salute to Leaders in Aging program, which recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding service to seniors and their families.

    In testifying before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee early this year Mr. Roosevelt said, “My grandfather founded Social Security for very simple but important reasons – he believed that the only enemy that could ever defeat the United States of America was fear itself,” he said.  “FDR looked at America and found fear of want, particularly after retirement or loss of a parent.”

    “It is a special privilege to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to the grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the creator of Social Security 70 years ago,” said Barbara Kennelly , President and CEO of the National Committee.  “Jim is carrying the family tradition of passion for what I believe is the most successful government program in the United States.”

    Mr. Roosevelt served as Associate Commissioner of Social Security under the Clinton Administration, where he led efforts to evaluate and propose alternatives for the financing and benefits of Social Security so that the program would remain sound in the 21 st century.  He became an expert in documenting changes in revenues and expenditures in the program, while tracking the extreme difficulties other countries experienced in privatization attempts.

    Currently, Mr. Roosevelt is Senior Vice President and general counsel of the Tufts Health Plan in Waltham , MA , and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Tufts University School of Medicine.

    The award ceremony will take place May 9 in Washington , D.C. , as part of the National Committee's celebration of Older Americans Month.

    The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.