FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 14th, 2019
Contact:
Linda Benesch, lbenesch@socialsecurityworks.org
On Social Security’s 84th Birthday, New Reports Show Importance of Expanding Benefits
(Washington, DC) — Today is the 84th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act into law on August 14th, 1935.
To mark the anniversary, Social Security Works has released a series of reports showing how important Social Security is to beneficiaries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and US territories. To view the reports, go to: https://socialsecurityworks.org/2019/08/12/social-security-works-for-america-2019/
“Today marks 84 years of success for our nation’s Social Security system. As our reports show, Social Security is an essential protection for nearly 63 million Americans including veterans, children, people with disabilities, seniors, and many others.
They receive $941.3 billion in benefits, much of which is spent in their local communities. Social Security is the lifeblood of many small businesses, always present and always supporting jobs that stay in America.
The Social Security 2100 Act, which is co-sponsored by 210 House Democrats, protects and expands Social Security’s modest benefits. Nearly every Democrat running for President also supports expanding, not cutting, Social Security’s modest benefits.
Unfortunately, not a single House Republican has co-sponsored the Social Security 2100 Act. They’ve also refused to release a plan of their own, indicating that their actual plan is to allow benefits to be automatically cut by 20 percent due to a projected shortfall around the year 2035.
As our newly released reports show, this benefit cut would be devastating to families around the country, as well as local economies. Given that nearly half of Americans aged 55 and older have no retirement savings, now is the time to expand benefits – never cut them.”
– Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works
“The 50 State reports released today by Social Security Works, in honor of Social Security’s 84th birthday, clearly demonstrate Social Security’s economic impact across the country. That is why it is imperative that we strengthen and enhance the program. The Social Security 2100 Act would ensure that Social Security remains solvent beyond this century while expanding benefits for millions of Americans.”
– Congressman John Larson (D-CT), Sponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act
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Social Security Works is a non-profit organization working to improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations by fighting to protect and expand Social Security