FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Thair Phillips, President,
202-628-5095 or 703-593-2447,
tphillips@retiresafe.org
RetireSafe Listens to Seniors "Virtual Testimony," Acts to
Push Introduction of New "CPI for Seniors Act" in Congress
Washington, DC (June 1, 2010) - Today RetireSafe, representing
400,000 senior citizen supporters nationwide, announced the
overwhelming online response to its call for "Virtual Testimony"
from seniors on the zero Social Security Cost of Living
Adjustment for 2010 and its impact on their lives. Citing
hundreds of poignant personal responses, RetireSafe has joined
with caring Members of Congress to push the introduction of new
legislation to foster fair economic treatment of older Americans
facing hard times with rising costs, limited options, and a zero
COLA. That legislation, H.R. 5305 by U.S. Representatives Duncan
(TN-2), Lipinski (IL-3), Fudge (OH-11), Arcuri (NY-24), and
Harper (MS-3), is the CPI for Seniors Act of 2010 which calls
for a new consumer price index (CPI) just for seniors.
RetireSafe President Thair Phillips called the "Virtual
Testimony" from seniors an "important new tool to highlight the
challenges they face, and to take their concerns to Congress to
bring about the needed changes." "We decided to create a way for
older Americans everywhere to participate in a virtual
congressional hearing," he said. "Hundreds have already
responded, and we are taking those responses to the Hill calling
for action," he continued. "Thankfully, a number of Members of
Congress are also listening, and joining us in calling for a CPI
for seniors that actually reflects the rising costs every older
American faces on a daily basis," Phillips added, in sharing
some responses.
He noted the words of one older American, "My story is no
different than the millions of other senior citizens in the U.
S. ... I have reduced my driving (to save fuel) and limit my
grocery shopping to bare essentials for daily survival. I no
longer have the luxury of giving my grandchildren the little
treats that create the memories that last a lifetime! What has
President Obama or Members of Congress given up lately???? I
doubt much!"
"American seniors deserve an accurate CPI based on their costs,
not on young urban workers, the standard now," Phillips
stressed. "Then we can get to a fair Social Security COLA for
every older American," he said. "H.R. 5305, the CPI for Seniors
Act, will finally make that happen," Phillips concluded.
