Dear Friend,

Eighty-two years ago this week, as our country was emerging from the Great Depression, the federal government did something that would change our society and our economy forever—we sent the first Social Security check to Ida May Fuller in Ludlow, Vermont on January 31, 1940. This check was the beginning of a transformation of Social Security from a retirement program for workers to a family-based economic security program.

Since 1940, Social Security has kept millions of Americans out of poverty and today, remains a key lifeline for over 450,000 New Mexicans. In addition to helping our elders to retire with dignity, Social Security provides monthly income for the surviving spouses and children of a deceased worker and supplements income for individuals with disabilities who are not able to participate in the workforce.

That’s why it is so important that President Biden recently implemented an 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment increase in Social Security. We must protect and expand Social Security, not threaten cuts to this lifeline.

Right now, I am standing alongside House Democrats against a Republican plan to hold our nation’s full faith and credit hostage in exchange for cuts to Social Security and Medicare. These are your earned benefits, and you can rest assured that I will be fighting against any cuts to these programs, and that I will keep you informed about how this work progresses.

Instead, I am working to secure Social Security and its earned benefits for generations to come. I am a proud cosponsor of the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act to protect and strengthen Social Security’s promise to support every New Mexican by asking billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share in income taxes.

I will continue to fight to protect and expand the benefits our communities have earned as Democrats continue our work to deliver for our hardworking families – not the interests of corporations and billionaires.

As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff at (505) 346-6781. If you’d like to keep up to date on what I am working on in Washington on behalf of New Mexico’s First Congressional District and our communities, you can subscribe to our newsletter here, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Warmly,



Melanie A. Stansbury
Member of Congress