Congress Archives

Republicans Are Playing With Fire – and Seniors’ Earned Benefits – By Risking Default

Today’s breaching of the debt ceiling by the U.S. government is making seniors’ advocates nervous. The federal government is now on track to default on its financial obligations (including the ability to make Social Security and Medicare payments) as early as June --- unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, which it has done 78 times since 1960. As CNN's Jake Tapper put it, "Republicans are vowing to cut future spending before agreeing to pay bills that are already due."

NCPSSM2023-01-20T12:25:12-04:00January 19th, 2023|Categories: Budget, Congress, Debt, Kevin McCarthy, Medicaid, Medicare, President Biden, Social Security|

McCarthy Speakership Battle May Cost Seniors in the Long Run

Kevin McCarthy’s battle for the House speakership may have made for compelling political theater this week, but it has potentially dire implications for America’s seniors. According to news reports, McCarthy (R-CA) has made concessions to holdout House members that would empower right-wingers in Congress who want to slash Social Security and Medicare --- in order to fulfill his personal ambition to become Speaker.

NCPSSM2023-01-06T17:04:45-04:00January 6th, 2023|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Medicare, Republicans, Social Security|

Does New Hill Spending Deal Affect Social Security & Medicare?

Congressional negotiators have struck a compromise on spending for Fiscal Year 2023, avoiding a government shutdown this Friday. The House and Senate are expected to pass a short-term extension by the end of this week, giving negotiators more time to finish a final funding package for the rest of the fiscal year. We spoke with NCPSSM legislative director Dan Adcock about the compromise deal.

NCPSSM2022-12-14T12:15:45-04:00December 14th, 2022|Categories: Budget, Congress, Democrats, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability Insurance|

NCPSSM President Busts Social Security Myths at Sen. Harkin’s Forum

Some of the nation’s leading Social Security experts gathered in Des Moines, IA on Wednesday to discuss the future of a program buffeted by serious financial and political challenges. The forum, Get Your Roadmap to Retirement, was presented by the Harkin Institute at Drake University and moderated by former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (who also chairs the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare advisory board). NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman was among the experts on the panel.

NCPSSM2022-12-09T11:51:53-04:00December 8th, 2022|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Max Richtman, Social Security|

Speaker Pelosi’s Legacy Includes Historic Legislation for Seniors

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who declared Thursday that she will not seek a leadership position in the next Congress, has been lauded as a master of legislative procedure, a unifier of her caucus, a skilled tactician – and as someone who broke the “marble ceiling” for women in the halls of Congress.

NCPSSM2022-11-18T16:59:04-04:00November 18th, 2022|Categories: Congress|

NCPSSM-Endorsed Candidates Prevail in Mid-Terms

As the country awaits full election results, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare congratulates the many seniors’ champions who prevailed in key races across the nation. Several candidates who the National Committee enthusiastically endorsed have emerged victorious in crucial House and the Senate contests.

NCPSSM2022-11-10T12:33:13-04:00November 9th, 2022|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Election 2022, Medicare, President Biden, Republicans, Retirement, Senate, Social Security|

NCPSSM Makes Final Endorsements of 2022 Cycle, Emphasizing GOP Threats to Social Security and Medicare

As the midterm campaign draws to a close with the future of Social Security and Medicare possibly at stake, NCPSSM has been completing its final round of candidate endorsement events around the country. Today in Charlotte, North Carolina, NCPSSM legislative director and PAC coordinator Dan Adcock formally endorsed Democrat Cheri Beasley for U.S. Senate in one of the pivotal swing state races of this election cycle.

NCPSSM2022-11-07T12:17:47-04:00November 4th, 2022|Categories: Congress, Election 2022, Medicare, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, President Biden, privatization, Republicans, Senate|

Let’s Protect Social Security & Medicare On November 8th

It is no exaggeration to say that the nation's two most important programs for seniors—Social Security and Medicare—are on the line in this November's elections. This is not a matter of nuance; it's truly existential. Whichever party controls Congress will influence whether Social Security and Medicare will continue as we know them—or be weakened and privatized.

NCPSSM2022-10-28T16:06:32-04:00October 28th, 2022|Categories: 2022 Opeds and Letters, Congress, Democrats, Election 2022, Max Richtman, Medicare, Politics, President Biden, Republicans, Social Security|

NCPSSM Endorses Nevada Democrats as Bulwark Against GOP Attacks on Social Security & Medicare

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare officially endorsed all 3 Democratic members of Nevada’s congressional delegation for re-election. During a virtual event on Thursday, NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman declared the organization’s support for Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee as champions for seniors, with the three members participating live from Nevada.

NCPSSM2022-10-28T15:58:23-04:00October 21st, 2022|Categories: Congress, Democrats, Election 2022, GOP, Max Richtman, Medicare, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Republicans, Social Security|

8.7% Social Security COLA is Highest in Four Decades, But Seniors Need a Better Inflation Formula

The Social Security Administration SSA announced this morning that Social Security benefits will increase 8.7 % in 2023 --- the largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four decades. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.