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Social Security Town Meeting to Focus on Privatization Effects on All Ages

Date: March 28, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Senior Citizens Entitlements and the Safety Net


SOCIAL SECURITY TOWN MEETING TO FOCUS ON PRIVATIZATION EFFECTS ON ALL AGES

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the Norton All Ages Town Hall Meeting on Privatizing Social Security for Young People, Adults and Senior Citizens (postponed from February 28, 2005 due to snow) will take place Tuesday, March 29 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Howard University School of Business auditorium (Fairmont Street and Georgia Avenue, NW). The town meeting takes place as President Bush travels the country trying to rescue the issue from negative public opinion polls.

Norton chose Howard University as the location in order to include students because, she said, the debate is still not focused enough on how privatizing Social Security will hurt young people. Speakers will focus on the issues privatization raises for people of all ages and in all sectors of the population, including middle-aged people close to retirement and other adults, the disabled, as well as children and students receiving survivor benefits. One-third of recipients who rely on Social Security benefits are not retirees.

Speakers will include former Rep. Barbara Kennelly, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, who was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, Vice President of Research and Programs for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Participants also will hear a young D.C. resident speak about "How Social Security Helped Me," with brief opening remarks from Romaine Thomas, President of the D.C. AARP and from Conrad Woody, President of the Howard University Student Association. The discussion on the President's privatization proposals and their impact on residents will be followed by a question and answer period.

"Social Security privatization is the most important issue and debate in the Congress today. I am joining Democratic Members who continue to hold town meetings across the country to ensure that Americans learn how privatization would hurt each and every one of them across the board, and would make the financial problems confronting Social Security funds worse, not better," Norton said. "We need to focus on the problem before us—making the system solvent—not privatizing it."

More than 72,000 D.C. residents receive Social Security.

http://www.norton.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=10321

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