Himes Receives Endorsement of Alliance for Retired Americans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Contact: Liz Kerr, 203-275-9715
Himes Receives Endorsement of Alliance for Retired Americans
Calls for $250 Payment to Address Social Security COLA Issues
BRIDGEPORT, CT—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) held a press conference today to receive the endorsement of the Alliance for Retired Americans and to announce that he will not take a pay increase until Social Security recipients get a cost of living increase. Himes also called for a one-time payment of $250 for Social Security recipients similar to the measure included in the Recovery Act in 2009.
“We endorse Congressman Jim Himes for re-election because he is the candidate in this race that seniors can trust to protect their retirements and health care,” said Kevin Lynch, Regional Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Himes led the way on Wall Street Reform, has helped pass legislation to make Medicare stronger, and has promised not to take a pay increase until seniors see an increase in Social Security. He's the right man for the job.”
Given the prediction that Social Security recipients will not receive a cost of living adjustment (COLA) this year, Himes is calling for an additional payment of $250 for all Social Security recipients. Social Security COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index, so Congress does not have control over the amount seniors receive every year. This year, Jim helped pass a new law that stops automatic pay raises for Members of Congress, and he gave the cost of living adjustment he automatically received in 2009 to local charities.
“Our nation’s senior citizens have built the country we have been so fortunate to inherit,” said Himes. “I will always fight to protect the retirement and benefits these men and women have earned over a lifetime of work, and I am honored by this endorsement.”
Over the past two years, Himes has demonstrated he is a strong advocate for Connecticut seniors. He helped write and pass Wall Street Reform, which will help protect retirement accounts and protect seniors from predatory financial schemes. He helped pass the Recovery Act, which provided $1 million food assistance for senior programs like Meals on Wheels and funded the renovation of senior centers and living facilities across the district. Jim helped pass health care reform, which is making Medicare more secure and provided $250 checks to all seniors in the prescription drug donut hole and eventually close the hole. Finally, Jim has stood strong against any and all proposals to privatize Social Security.
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