FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 04, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Democratic Leaders: Social Security Administration Should Recognize 70th Anniversary of Social Security

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, and Senator Max Baucus of Montana sent the following letter this week to Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart on the Social Security Administration’s decision to not hold any public events recognizing the 70th anniversary of Social Security. 

Below is the text of the letter:

August 1, 2005

The Honorable Jo Anne B. Barnhart

Commissioner of Social Security

Social Security Administration

6401 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland 21234

Dear Commissioner Barnhart:

As you know, August 14, 2005, is the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- the landmark legislation that created Social Security.  It has come to our attention that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is not planning any kind of public, agency-wide recognition of this milestone for a program so vital to millions of Americans.

In the past, SSA has taken advantage of these opportunities to promote Social Security’s success nationwide and to educate the public about the value of the benefits they were earning.  It is particularly striking that SSA has chosen to deviate from past practice and disregard the 70th anniversary, while the President has been aggressively promoting his plan to replace Social Security’s guaranteed benefit with private accounts that are subject to the fluctuations of the stock market.

For previous anniversaries, SSA engaged in a wealth of activities designed to commemorate the enactment of the watershed legislation that has protected millions of American families, recognize its importance to today’s workers, and educate the public about the value of Social Security’s guaranteed benefits.  These activities included announcements on radio, television, and in newspapers, as well as commemorative events at many of SSA’s 1,300 field offices.  The past activities have even included an anniversary greeting on SSA’s 800 number and a scoreboard announcement at Yankee Stadium.

We would appreciatean explanation of why SSA is choosing not to commemorate this significant event and is forgoing this opportunity to further inform Americans about the benefits Social Security provides in safeguarding economic security.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi                                                                Harry Reid

Democratic Leader                                                       Democratic Leader

U.S. House of Representatives                                      U.S. Senate

Charles B. Rangel                                                         Max Baucus

Ranking Democrat                                                        Ranking Democrat

Committee on Ways and Means                                   Committee on Finance

U.S. House of Representatives                                      U.S. Senate

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi