September 11th changed the priorities for Congress and the President, but the concerns and needs of TSCL members remain the same.  In response, TSCL continues to pursue a vigorous Legislative Agenda in 2002.  TSCL firmly believes that Congress has a responsibility to the generation who heeded the call in defense of freedom half a century ago and whose sacrifices and hard work have made America the greatest nation in the history of the world.  We will continue to focus on the following specific legislative goals: 

• Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Passage of legislation to establish a voluntary, fair, and universal outpatient prescription drug benefit for all Medicare-eligible beneficiaries.
• Medicare Improvements: Work with Congress to modernize, improve and strengthen the Medicare program by: reducing the excessive regulatory burden imposed on Medicare providers; modernizing an outdated and inefficient information system; improving the oversight of Medicare claims administration contractors; improving the payment of Medicare claims; and improving the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
• Social Security “Notch” Repeal or Settlement: Passage of an acceptable $5,000 settlement in order to bring the Notch issue to closure.
• Consumer Price Index-Elderly (CPI-E): Passage of legislation to establish an annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) index that accurately reflects the actual expenditures and needs of older Americans.
• Social Security Reform: Support only efforts to reform Social Security that a) protect benefit levels of current beneficiaries and, b) address the inevitable structural funding problem facing the next generation of retirees.
• Social Security Trust Fund Solvency: Support legislation that creates a tangible Social Security Trust Fund that is protected from funding raids to support other government programs or balance the federal budget.
• Repeal of the 85 Percent Social Security Tax Rate: Work with Congress to reduce or eliminate the 85% Social Security tax rate passed in 1993 and to fully eliminate all taxes on Social Security income.
• Social Security Earnings Limit Expansion:  Work with Congress to abolish the earning limits for workers between the ages of 62 and 64 who receive Social Security benefits.
• Repeal/Amend Social Security Offset and Windfall Laws:  Work with Congress to repeal or amend Social Security Offset and Windfall laws that reduce Social Security benefits of retired government and state employees.

For more information on these goals and for a list of House and Senate bills that we support to achieve these goals, please visit our web site at www.TSCL.org. 

February 2002