August 29, 2018

Ms. Deb Haaland
c/o Deb Haaland for Congress
P.O. Box 25443
Albuquerque, NM  87125

Dear Ms. Haaland:

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, on behalf of its millions of members and supporters, including almost 4,000 in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, enthusiastically endorses your candidacy for election to the United States House of Representatives.  Our nation needs your leadership, vision and determination to fight for working families and older Americans.

You earned the endorsement of the National Committee because you understand and support the critical roles that Social Security and Medicare play in the retirement and health security of our nation’s older citizens and their families.  You know, too, the particular importance of Social Security and Medicare for the independence and dignity of older women.  That’s why National Committee members support excellent candidates like you who understand the challenges faced by women in the workplace, as caregivers and as retirees.

You realize that looming deficits and calls for “entitlement reform” are renewing efforts to cut benefits and privatize Social Security, undermining the nation’s most successful social insurance program.  You appreciate that Social Security has not contributed to the nation’s debt and its modest benefits − on average only $16,848 annually and even lower for women − are earned and should not be cut in order to reduce spending.  You recognize fully that Medicare is crucial to the health of older Americans, many of whom cannot afford higher out-of-pocket costs that some in Congress are calling for as a way of reducing the deficit while doing nothing to restrain general health care inflation.  You oppose allowing insurance carriers to charge enrollees with pre-existing conditions thousands of dollars more for their health insurance coverage.  You appreciate that steps already had been taken to extend the viability of Medicare, to close the prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole,” to provide preventive services without copays and deductibles, and that these noteworthy improvements must not be repealed.

The nation needs your forward-thinking leadership on issues affecting the health and retirement security of all Americans.  There is no membership in the nation more aware or active politically than the men and women who proudly are associated with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.  National Committee members know they can count on you!

Sincerely,

Max Richtman
President & CEO
Chairman, NCPSSM-PAC Board of Directors