TSCL is not the only organization to warn about the prospect of another extremely low COLA next year. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in its latest budget report projected that next year's COLA would be 1.6%. Seniors depend on COLAS to protect the buying power of benefits from rising costs over retirement, which can last as long as 25 or 30 years. But over the past five years, COLAs have been at record lows, averaging only 1.4% after averaging about 4% per year since COLAs became automatic in 1975. .Due to record-low growth in health care costs, the board hasn't been triggered to begin making recommendations to Congress yet, and it currently has no appointed members. Nonetheless, many lawmakers feel that such critical policy-making decisions should be left solely in the hands of elected representatives, and they hope to repeal it long before it is needed. .This week, two new cosponsors – Reps. Mike Burgess (TX-26) and Lamar Smith (TX-21) – signed on as cosponsors to the No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act (H.R. 1716). The cosponsor total is now up to thirty-one. .There is already reason to worry that our deliverance from the coronavirus will cost us plenty. BARDA paid AstraZeneca up to .2 billion toward development, production, and delivery of its candidate vaccine, in order to secure 300 million doses in October. Britain paid the equivalent of million to secure 100 million doses in September — one-fifth of what the United States government agreed to pay per dose. .Assistance in paying for low cost home weatherization to make your home more energy efficient. .Watch our public service video about the need for a fair Social Security COLA and spread the word! .Provide Social Security beneficiaries with an emergency COLA. Medical costs are on the rise, and many seniors are currently experiencing excessive prescription drug price increases of 1,000% or more. Those increases are not reflected in the COLA since it is based on the way young, urban workers spend their money, using the CPI-W. TSCL feels strongly that a modest one-time payment of 0 would give seniors much-needed relief next year. .Richard "Rick" Delaney joined the United States Air Force in June of 196He served three tours of duty in Southeast Asia in 1966, 1969, and 1971 as well as two tours to Europe in Germany and England. He has been stationed in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Wyoming, California Georgia and South Dakota. .At Thursday's hearing, Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (TX-3) and Ranking Member John Larson (CT-3) both spoke about how their Social Security reform bills would improve the program's financing. Chairman Johnson's bill – the Social Security Reform Act – would do so primarily through benefit cuts, while Ranking Member Larson's bill – the Social Security 2100 Act – would do so primarily through revenue increases. Mr. Goss confirmed that both bills – using two very different approaches – would return the program to 75-year solvency if adopted.