NEW ROCHELLE, NY – As the House of Representatives begins hearings on partially privatizing Social Security, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) talked to seniors about what changes could mean for their families.  On Monday, she hosted a forum in New Rochelle on the perils and pitfalls of efforts to cut benefits and partially privatize Social Security.

“Social Security faces long-term fiscal challenges.  I’ll work with anyone in Congress who wants to deal with those challenges.  Unfortunately, what we’ve seen instead is an effort to substantially change the program as we know it,” said Lowey.  “Seniors in our area know that Social Security is critical to a stable retirement so I’m talking to them about what we need to do to strengthen and protect the program.”

Over the past several months, the Bush Administration has outlined a number of proposals that would weaken the structure and solvency of Social Security.  Plans to partially privatize the program would require trillions in additional federal debt and would divert payroll taxes away from the system.  Meanwhile, proposals to change the indexing of benefits would require cuts for all seniors who make more than $20,000.

Congresswoman Lowey talked with Westchester seniors about the current debate over Social Security.  She was joined by former Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Dr. Alejandro Garcia of AARP and Daniel Sambol, a local resident who serves on the Westchester County Council for Seniors.

“Without Social Security, millions of seniors would live in poverty.  We can’t jeopardize their futures by risking benefits in the stock market,” said Lowey.  “Congress ought to be looking for ways to improve the program - not reasons to end it.”

Congresswoman Lowey recently reintroduced legislation that would improve Social Security by removing rules that limit or prevent women from receiving the financial assistance they have earned. These bills would allow disabled widows to collect full benefits regardless of age and eliminate waiting periods for divorced spouse and widow benefits. In addition, they would allow a working widow to supplement her widow's benefits with earnings from her employment during ages 65 through 70.