Congressional Response: Representative John Sullivan (R-1st, Oklahoma) Responds To Your COLA Petition

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Congressional Response: Representative John Sullivan (R-1st, Oklahoma) Responds To Your COLA Petition

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the cost of living adjustment for Social Security recipients. It was good to hear your thoughts on this most important matter.

As you may know, H.R. 2035, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act, directs the Department of Labor to prepare and publish a monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Elderly Consumers. This report should indicate changes over time in expenditures for consumption that are typical for individuals aged 62 years or older. This bill also amends the Social Security Act to provide for the use of such new CPI in the computation of cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits under such programs.

Like you, I desire to see Social Security protected. The government requires everyone to pay into the fund and it is wrong to reduce benefits to those who have earned them. Preserving our Social Security system for future generations is a top priority for the Bush Administration and Republicans during the 107th Congress. Rest assured that I will keep your concerns in mind, should this bill, or any other related legislation, come before the floor of the 107th Congress.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on Social Security COLAs with me. If I can be of any assistance on this or any other issue, please feel free to contact me.

John Sullivan
Member of Congress

October 2002