The start of a New Year encourages positive resolutions as a means to achieve fresh new goals. TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is placing great emphasis on reaching out to our new leadership and Members of Congress. We are encouraged by several developments.
New Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi (CA), has promised that the House would give the government power to negotiate the costs of prescription drugs within the Medicare Part D program. TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) believes the change is needed to keep Medicare Part D costs more affordable for both beneficiaries as well as taxpayers.
More than 60 new freshmen Representatives and Senators have begun their jobs. TSCL is educating them about the Social Security Notch and how it affects many of our nearly 1.2 million members and supporters and asking for their support of “The Notch Fairness Act,” reintroduced by Representative Ralph Hall (TX).
On the other hand, TSCL is carefully monitoring new proposals to reform Social Security. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Representative Charles Rangel (NY), recently said that reducing Social Security benefits is “on the table.” TSCL believes the long-term solvency of Social Security is essential, but is vigilantly monitoring proposals that could cut benefits or annual Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) of current retirees.
In recent years, seniors have found that a growing amount of their annual COLA is needed to cover the costs of rising Medicare premiums. Some seniors with lower benefits have seen premium increases completely obliterate their entire COLA, leaving nothing to cover other rising costs. TSCL continues to work for a more adequate COLA — one that’s determined using a seniors-only Consumer Price Index (CPI).
TSCL is also continuing to fight a pending U.S. Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico. If the President signs the Agreement and neither the House nor Senate stops it from taking effect, it could lead to Social Security benefits going to individuals who worked in the U.S. illegally.
Now is the time for you to reach out to your Members of Congress and let them know how these and other issues affect you. New Members of Congress are especially eager to listen — make sure they know your opinion. Rest assured we will continue to fight to protect your benefits and support proposals that would lower your Medicare costs.
January 2007
