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    Letter to Senate on COLA Relief for Seniors

    March 3, 2010

    United States Senate
    Washington , DC 20510

    Dear Senator:  

    This week Senator Bernie Sanders will offer an amendment to H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010. The amendment would extend a $250 economic recovery payment to seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities for 2010.  The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and its millions of members and supporters strongly urge you to support this amendment.

    For the first time in the history of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, there will be no Social Security COLA this year. Not only are monthly Social Security benefits not going up in 2010, millions of American seniors will actually have fewer resources as out-of-pocket health care costs and Medicare Part D premiums continue to grow. It is projected that there will also be no Social Security COLA in 2011.

    The Sanders' amendment, similar to a provision in President Obama's recent budget, would provide a $250 emergency payment to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Just as working people will receive a second $400 payment in 2010 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act , the amendment would add a second $250 payment to seniors and others who have suffered from the recession just as much as other Americans.

    As the underlying legislation provides extensions of certain unemployment and medical benefits to those affected by the loss of a job, this amendment extends economic recovery assistance to seniors and others affected by reduced housing values and losses in 401(k)s and other retirement savings.  When the National Committee polled its members on how they were faring in the economic downturn, more than 97 percent of them said YES to the question: "Do you believe your standard of living will suffer if no COLA is provided to seniors for the next two years?"

    For these reasons, the National Committee and its millions of members strongly urge you to say "YES" to the Sanders' Amendment.

    Cordially,

    Barbara B. Kennelly
    President & CEO