Sens. Sanders, Casey, Warren to Join Advocates to Deliver 250,000 Petitions Opposing Social Security Administration Cuts

Media Advisory For: Thursday, January 18th, 2018

Contact: Linda Benesch, lbenesch@socialsecurityworks.org

Sens. Sanders, Casey, Warren Join Advocates to Deliver 250,000 Petitions Opposing Social Security Administration Cuts

Washington, DC – This Thursday, January 18th, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will join advocates and seniors for a press conference opposing Republican plans to cut $492 million from the Social Security Administration’s budget in the upcoming government funding bill. Advocates and seniors will then deliver the petitions to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) The petition signatures were collected by CREDO Action, Social Security Works, Economic Policy Institute, American Federation of Government Employees, Alliance for Retired Americans, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. The event will be at 11am EST in 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Since 2011, baby boomers have been retiring at the rate of 10,000 a day, expanding the population that SSA serves. In recent years, the agency has had to close 64 field offices due to budget constraints. The average wait time for a disability hearing decision is a record high 627 days. We need to fully fund the Social Security Administration, not subject it to cuts that make it increasingly difficult for Americans to access their earned benefits.

Who:

  • Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member, Senate Budget Committee
  • Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member, Senate Aging Committee
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
  • Julian Blair, Grassroots leader from MD and veteran receiving Social Security benefits
  • Dana Duggins, Executive Vice-President of the SSA Council, American Federation of Government Employees
  • Robert Roach Jr., President, Alliance for Retired Americans
  • Susan Prokop, Senior Associate Advocacy Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America
  • Max Richtman, President/CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and MedicareModerated by Nancy Altman, President, Social Security Works

What: Members of Congress and advocates hold a press conference prior to the delivery of over 250,000 petitions to Sen. Mitch McConnell opposing Republican plans to cut $492 million from the Social Security Administration’s budget in the upcoming government funding bill.

Where: 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building, First St NE, Washington, DC 20002

When: Thursday, January 18th from 11:00am – 12:30pm EST