FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 25, 2006

CONTACT:
Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
Kim Wright 202-216-8414

~ 4.6 Million Seniors ~ One Voice ~No Privatization ~

National Committee Seniors put Congress on Notice Protecting Social Security and Medicare is still a top priority

More than 131 thousand letters delivered to Capitol Hill

Cases of letters from members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare were delivered to Congress on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. More than 131,000 “blue letters”, from seniors in all 50 states, urge Congress to oppose any legislation, plan or conference report that will in any way harm the benefits, structure or traditional role of Social Security and Medicare.  A list of state letter totals is available on the NCPSSM website.

The 4.6 million members and supporters of the National Committee believe the President and his allies in Congress have not abandoned their goal to privatize Social Security and Medicare.  Instead they have now opted for a more subtle approach…using taxpayers' frustration with mounting deficits as an excuse to radically alter Social Security and Medicare in the name of fiscal discipline.

More Photos > > > (click on image to enlarge)

“Our members understand that private accounts do nothing to improve Social Security's long-term solvency and in fact, only make it worse.  Yet the President and his leaders in Congress continue to argue that privatizing Social Security and Medicare and cutting entitlements are the only ways to restore ‘fiscal discipline'.  This new back-door approach is a serious threat ”
…Barbara B. Kennelly, National Committee President/CEO.

National Committee members and supporters successfully fought back the President's ill-conceived Social Security privatization proposal last year and this letter delivery is a continuation of that battle.  Since 2003, when the battle over the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit was underway, NC members and supporters have generated more than two million petitions and letters annually to Congress on Medicare and Social Security.

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.