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    Social Security 75 Years: Keeping the Promise


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    THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
    ~ Celebrating 25 Years of Advocacy for Older Americans ~

    February 24, 2009

    NEWS RELEASE

    Boomer Bust? Securing Retirement in a Volatile Economy

    National Seniors Advocate, Barbara Kennelly, Testifies before Senate Special Committee on Aging

    Former Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and a leading advocate for older Americans, will testify on the current economic crisis and its impact on retirement security before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on Wednesday, February 25, 2009.  

    "Unfortunately, Social Security has been unfairly singled out by those concerned about the federal budget.  It has been swept up, together with Medicare and Medicaid, into the scary sound-bite of an 'entitlement crisis.' But Social Security is anything but out-of-control.  In fact, it is the most fiscally conservative and responsible part of the federal budget.  Most people don't realize that Social Security is prohibited by law from paying benefits unless it has sufficient revenue to cover the cost of the outlays.  As a result, it has a built-in check on its spending.  If revenues fall short of the amount needed to pay benefits, the benefits are automatically reduced.  Social Security is far from the 'bankrupt' program in crisis its detractors would like you to believe."...Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO

    The Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing will be chaired by Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) starting at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 25th in Dirksen 106.  Mrs. Kennelly's full testimony will be available following the hearing on the National Committee's website at www.ncpssm.org .

     

    Media Inquiries to:
    Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
    Kim Wright 202-216-8414
    www.ncpssm.org

     

    The National Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that 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.