May 16, 2019

The Honorable Linda T. Sanchez
2329 Rayburn House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Mark Pocan
1421 Longworth House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C., 20515

Dear Representatives Sanchez and Pocan:

On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I write to endorse your legislation, H.R. 2654, entitled the “Strengthening Social Security Act of 2019.”

This legislation extends the solvency of both the Old-Age and Survivors and the Disability Insurance Social Security trust funds for many years while at the same time making needed improvements in Social Security benefits, including:

  • A gradual across-the-board increase in the amount of Social Security benefits for future retirees;
  • Adoption of the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) for the purpose of determining cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security beneficiaries;
  • Increasing the benefits paid to a surviving spouse to an amount that is equal to not less than 75 percent of the total combined benefits that were paid to the couple prior to the spouse’s death; and
  • Disregarding any increase in Social Security benefits created through the enactment of this bill when determining an individual’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

The “Strengthening Social Security Act of 2019” extends Social Security’s financing by increasing revenue dedicated to support it. It achieves this goal by gradually extending the payroll tax to cover all wages paid to workers. The bill also credits newly covered wages for the purpose of determining an individual’s Social Security benefit.

The National Committee supports the provisions included in your bill, and proudly endorses H.R. 2654, the “Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016.”  Your bill represents a bold step on behalf of seniors and all Americans by strengthening and safeguarding Social Security for future beneficiaries while improving the adequacy of benefits.  We look forward to working with you to enact this important legislation.

 

Sincerely,

Max Richtman
President and CEO