Urges Congress to stand up for seniors and fight to prevent second straight year of benefit freezes
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., called on Congress to address the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the Social Security program as soon it resumes following the November elections. Without Congressional intervention, recipients face a benefit freeze for a second year in a row.
"This recession has dealt a particularly painful blow to seniors and others on Social Security," Chu said. "They’ve had vital benefits slashed as local governments cut programs in response to budget shortfalls. They've seen the rising cost of prescription drugs outpace the prices paid for other goods and services. Now is not the time to put their economic security at further risk."
"Congress must take swift action to solve this problem and help our seniors through the worst recession in generations. I call on our leadership to make addressing the lack of a Cost of Living Adjustment the first item on Congress's agenda when we return to Washington in November."
Last year was the first year without a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase since automatic adjustments for inflation began in 1975. Almost 73,000 residents of Chu’s Congressional District currently receive assistance from Social Security.
Representative Judy Chu was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California’s 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Education and Labor Committees.
Congresswoman Chu’s career in politics spans 24 years. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.
