Legislative Update: A Busy Year For TSCL, What’s Ahead for 2004?

By Patty Gaul, Director of Legislative Affairs, TREA Senior Citizens League

As I complete my first year with TSCL, I am grateful for the opportunity to work on behalf of our members and supporters.  Here are a few highlights:

In February, we released a ground-breaking report on the Notch by respected economist, Dr. John Haldi.  The report not only reaffirms the existence of the Notch, it clearly lays out how both the transition and new benefit formula crafted in the 1977 Social Security legislation failed Notch babies.

At our annual congressional reception in March, we honored two great friends of TSCL: Congresman Ralph Hall (D-TX) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC).  Congressman Hall is lead sponsor of H.R. 97, “The Notch Fairness Act.”  Congressman Walter Jones is a supporter of key TSCL legislative issues, including Notch Reform, guaranteed Social Security benefits, and prescription drug affordability by allowing importation. 

In July, TSCL launched a campaign in support of prescription drug importation.  While the pharmaceutical industry poured its wealth into advertisements against the bill and ordered its 600 lobbyists up to the Hill, TSCL members and supporters wrote thousands of letters to Members of Congress.  When the final vote was taken in the House in the early hours of July 25th, the bill passed the House by a vote of 243-186.

While we have accomplished a lot in 2003, we have much unfinished business for 2004. 

• COLA Fairness — To use a special consumer price index for elderly consumers so that seniors receive a more fair Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).  COLA fairness legislation has nearly 100 co-sponsors in the House, and we are working to see that a Senate bill is introduced.
  
  
• Notch Reform — We continue to work for Notch Reform, and seek to ensure that a future generation of Notch babies is not “born” when Social Security is reformed. 
  
  
• Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit — As of this writing, Congress has yet to pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit, and we need to pass language in the Senate similar to that passed in the House, which will allow more affordable prescription drugs through importation and other measures. 

We look forward to continuing our efforts in the coming year to protect earned benefits for seniors.

December 2003

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