Letter to Democratic Colleagues

Letter

Social Security faces new threats from the Republican-controlled House and newly-elected ultra-conservatives in the Senate. In advance of President Obama's State of the Union address next Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders urged him to keep his campaign promise to preserve the "strong and vibrant" system that serves more than 52 million Americans. Sanders also is forming a congressional caucus to protect Social Security. By extremely lopsided margins, thousands of you in our latest survey oppose raising the retirement age and favor lifting the cap on wages subject to the payroll tax.

Letter to senators below:

December 23, 2010

PLEASE JOIN THE DEFENDING SOCIAL SECURITY CAUCUS

Dear Democratic Colleague:

Thank you for your strong support of Social Security -- the most successful government program in our nation's history.

With the Republicans controlling the House and gaining seats in the Senate, we are deeply concerned that during the next session of Congress there will be a major assault on Social Security. There is no question but that there will be well-funded efforts to cut benefits, raise the retirement age or privatize it.

Social Security has been an enormous success for 75 years keeping millions of seniors, people with disabilities and widows and orphans out of poverty. Today, the Social Security Trust Fund has a $2.6 trillion surplus and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 27 years. We must do everything we can to defend Social Security and protect the needs of tens of millions of working families.

With this in mind, we look forward to forming with you the Defending Social Security Caucus to protect Social Security. When Congress gets back into session, we hope you will join us in a meeting with senior citizens organizations, union leaders, and disability advocates to discuss the future of Social Security and how we can move forward to strengthen Social Security for generations to come.

If you would like to be added to the Defending Social Security Caucus please let us know or have your staff contact Warren Gunnels in the office of Sen. Sanders at 8-6358.

Thanks again for your leadership in protecting Social Security. We look forward to working with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Bernard Sanders
United States Senator

Sheldon Whitehouse
United States Senator

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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