Democratic Women Senators Fight Social Security Privatization

Democratic Women Senators Fight Social Security Privatization

Senators Unveil New Report, Hear From Americans about Need to Protect Social Security

Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today was joined by her Democratic women Senate colleagues to unveil a report highlighting the negative impact President Bush's Social Security privatization plan will have on America - especially women. The Senators also heard women tell their stories of the difference Social Security has made in their lives. The witnesses included two young women who received survivor benefits, a widow who raised two young children, and a woman relying on Social Security in her retirement.

"Americans deserve a guaranteed benefit, not a guaranteed gamble," said Senator Mikulski. "Today we heard the stories of women who needed Social Security to be their lifeline. We need to fight to keep the ‘security' in ‘social security' so that women and families get the help they need, when they need it. I am so proud that the Democratic women of the Senate are united for a guaranteed, lifetime, inflation-proof benefit."

One of the women who testified today, Connie Cordovilla, was widowed when her two daughters were young. She said, "I applied for my daughters to receive what are called survivor benefits. And they were just that - survivor benefits. These benefits made all the difference in the world to me as a single mom and to my daughters. The benefits provided money for the roof over our heads, for the time to read to them and do school work with them, to teach them to be good students and good citizens.

Testimony was also given by Mary Vogel, a Baltimorean who worked her entire life but now fears that her private pension is in jeopardy. She testified, "The company for which I worked so hard all those years continues in bankruptcy. I am scared to death I will lose my pension. Then, all I will have is Social Security. I have worked my entire adult life, and I believe have been prudent. However, because of the uncertainty of my pension, I am tremendously concerned about my future."

The report released today, produced by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, echoed the points made by the Senators and witnesses. Women are disproportionately reliant upon Social Security and would be disproportionately harmed by the privatization of the program. For example, without Social Security 52% of female seniors and 61%of African American female seniors would live in poverty. Women over the age of 65 are half as likely to receive an income from a pension as men over the age of 65, and women that do receive a pension receive an average of about half as much as men who receive a pension. The report also stated that women are 10 times as likely as men to receive benefits as spouses or widows of retired, disabled or deceased workers.

In addition to Sen. Mikulski, the participating Senators were Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D - NY). The four witnesses were: Ms. Constance Cordovilla, Ms. Alexandria Walden, Ms. Mary Vogel and Ms. Darryl Sherman.

http://mikulski.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=232851