ACTION ALERT:

Do Not Believe Rumors: Social Security Still At Risk!!! September 15, 2005

The Issue: Do not believe rumors that the Congressional Republican leadership will drop efforts to privatize Social Security. Although they are working on issues affecting people hurt by Hurricane Katrina, privatization remains a top priority for the President and Republican Congressional leaders.

Congress can create private accounts as stand-alone legislation or as part of broader efforts for pension reform. We remain concerned that the Senate could pass any House legislation that contains private accounts. This is extremely dangerous because it provides the way to add ANY private account provisions during final closed-door conference negotiations. Any initiatives to create private accounts are alarming: they will cut guaranteed benefits and jeopardize the programs long-term financial future. Now, more than ever, the families of workers who lose their lives or their livelihood due to disability must be able to count on guaranteed Social Security benefits.

Pending Bills: Both the House and Senate have pending bills that propose private accounts. The Republican leadership endorsed the House bill. Both threaten the true security of Americas working families because they provide a first step for more extensive private accounts in the future.

What You Can Do: We need Letters to the Editor in local papers to help educate legislators and the public about the disability perspective on any proposed Social Security changes. Check the editorial page of your paper for the address to use. Sometimes you can submit by email. We are attaching five sample letters. The third and fourth ones refer to lessons from Hurricane Katrina. The last one gives a way to share your personal story about how you or your family have benefited from Social Security. If you use this sample, please remember that newspapers are more likely to print shorter letters so try to be as brief as possible.

If your letter does appear, we would love to see it. Please mail to: CCD Social Security Task Force, Disability Policy Collaborative, 1660 L Street NW, Suite 701 Washington DC 20036 or FAX to 202-783-8250 to our attention. Thanks so much!

Send letters today to stop efforts to change Social Security from a program of guaranteed benefits into a risky investment system. You can help protect the future of Social Security for you, your children and grandchildren!