Dear John,

TELL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

“Social Security and Medicare didn’t cause today’s soaring budget deficits so don’t make seniors sacrifice our earned benefits to pay for unrelated fiscal priorities!”

So-called “fiscal hawks” in Congress are using the latest Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports, which were released last Friday, to double down on their attacks on these lifesaving programs. Contrary to their claims, Social Security is not ‘going bankrupt’, the program will always be able to pay benefits because of ongoing contributions from workers and employers, and Social Security remains strong in the face of turmoil in the rest of the economy.

The Medicare Trustees’ just-released projection for the improved solvency of the Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Trust Fund is encouraging news, but Congress must take pre-emptive action now to strengthen the program.

Of course, many of the staunch opponents of Social Security and Medicare are simply ideologically opposed to the existence of these programs.

Senator Mike Lee (UT) once said, “It will be my objective to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it ... Medicaid and Medicare are of the same sort. They need to be pulled up.”

But Senator Lee is just one of many hardliners in Congress who have indicated their support for slashing seniors’ earned benefits. He’s also a “proud” supporter of the Trump-GOP tax cuts that mainly benefits the wealthiest Americans and huge corporations and exploded our national debt.

And that’s why, in the weeks ahead when votes are cast on bills that could impact your future benefits …

We need to make it clear to all members of Congress — especially lawmakers like Senator Lee who have callously called for ending Social Security and Medicare — that “WORKERS AND RETIREES WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY BENEFIT CUTS.” That is why I am urging you to sign our urgent Petition to Congress today.

Opponents of Social Security and Medicare in the House and Senate are maneuvering to use the upcoming budget process to ram through reckless and unfair policies that would jeopardize future Social Security and Medicare benefits and make it harder for seniors to make ends meet.

The National Committee is preparing to fight back against any budget plan, proposal or amendment that would force cuts to your earned benefits — including by “sunsetting” these programs or creating “fast-track commissions” with the power to slash benefits.

The fact is, Congress listens to us because they listen to you. So please add your name right now to our urgent Petition to Congress.

Sincerely,

Max Richtman

President & CEO