NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare serves as an advocate for the landmark federal programs of Social Security and Medicare, and for all Americans so they may obtain a healthier, more productive, and secure retirement. Providing education and information, we encourage our members and the public to learn about the legislative and regulatory proposals which will affect their working and retirement life. In turn, we take their concerns directly to the White House and Congress with our staff of experts and advocacy professionals. Through our advocacy, education, services, and grassroots efforts we aim to:
•Enhance benefits to better provide what Americans need to live healthier and more productive lives
•Aggressively defend and protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from harmful cuts or benefit reductions that would hurt American seniors, widows, children, and people with disabilities
•Help keep beneficiaries out of poverty and allow them to live a life with dignity
•Educate the American public on the impact of new or pending legislation

• Legislative Policy
- Work with other advocacy groups on key issues that create a strong coalition for protecting and strengthening Americans’ retirement and health security
- Thoroughly review and analyze all federal legislation that impacts Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act
- Create policy papers for Congressional staff, the media and the public
- Provide input on draft legislation — at times suggesting policy issues and recommending language changes
- Send letters to members of Congress voicing support for or opposition to pending legislation on upcoming committee and floor votes
- Focus on members of Congress who chair, oversee or appropriate funds to Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Older Americans Act programs
- Participate in press conferences with members of Congress
- Provide testimony before Congress on issues that relate to the health and well-being of older Americans and our nation’s most vulnerable citizens
- Participate in national health policy conferences
- Make presentations as requested
- Regularly meet with members of Congress and their staffs, including the leadership of the committees with jurisdiction over Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act. Our membership gives us real clout in Washington which helps boost our legislative advocacy efforts and ultimately leads to real change that benefits older Americans
• Education – public and membership
- Send out regular communications to our members on current issues, pending legislation, etc.
- Provide essential benefit information to our members, including ways they can maximize their earned benefits
- Give Radio, Television and print/internet media interviews
- Publish Op-Eds
• Advocacy
- Activate local grassroots volunteers (Capitol Action Team) to participate in Hill rallies and press events
- Engage our more than one million members and supporters/activists in legislative battles by urging them to participate in letter-writing and petition campaigns to Congress, and make phone calls to their congressional representatives to ensure their views are heard in Washington
- Participate in town hall events, press conferences and forums to highlight issues of importance to seniors
• PAC
- Support candidates for Congress who share our views on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act
- Participate in town hall style events or press conferences with candidates for Congress
- Provide our members with a legislative scorecard so they can make informed decisions at the polls

•Our expert Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid lobbyists, grassroots organizers and communications professionals increase our voice, presence and clout on Capitol Hill.
•Our more than one million members and supporters/activists continue to follow current issues that allow for timely response with calls, letters, and visits to Capitol Hill.
•Our policy experts and staff review legislation that could impact the retirement and health security of older Americans, and using our long-standing relationships with policymakers work to defeat legislation that is not in the best interest of our members and supporters, and support legislation that is.
•We send online action alerts to our members and supporters urging them to take action when a bill is pending in Congress that could impact their earned benefits.
•We place op-eds in key news outlets to educate and influence the public and policymakers.
•We hold press conferences with members of Congress and other events to tout legislation that we support.

Our recent legislative accomplishments:
Covid-19 compelled the National Committee to refocus on Pandemic relief. However, we looked for opportunities to advance priorities to reduce prescription drug prices, extend Social Security and Medicare solvency and improve benefits.

The National Committee's main legislative accomplishments include the following:

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021:
- Made all U.S. residents with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 ($150,000 married) eligible for rebate tax credits payment
- Included provisions that fills coverage gaps in Medicare by requiring part B coverage begin the first of the month following an individual's enrollment and provides for a part A and part B special enrollment period for "exceptional circumstances" to mirror authority in Medicare advantage and Medicare part D.
-Extended funding for low-income Medicare beneficiary outreach, enrollment and education activities through 9/30/2023.
- Extended funding for the Medicaid money follows the person demonstration program at $450 million per fiscal year through FY 2023.
- Extended the protections against spousal impoverishment for partners of Medicaid beneficiaries who receive home and community-based services through FY 2023.
- Provides a total of $175 million in additional funding for OAA nutrition services.

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021:
- Made all U.S. residents with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 ($150,000 married) eligible for rebate payment.
- Preserved and restored the pensions of more than one million retirees and workers in underfunded multiemployer pension plans.
- Appropriated additional funds for vaccinations, testing, and safer nursing home care.
- Included $12.6 billion in additional federal Medicaid payments that states can use to expand home and community-based services (HCBS).
- Provides a total of $1.434 billion in funding for OAA nutrition services

What's next on our legislative agenda:
. Social Security:
-Extend Social Security solvency and improve benefits by requiring wealthy individuals to pay their fair share of payroll taxes.
Medicare:
-Allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers.
-Add hearing, dental and vision benefits to Medicare.
-Add a cap on beneficiary out-of-pocket spending to Medicare.
Medicaid:
-Increase the federal payment to state Medicaid programs to ensure that all states offer home and community based long-term care to all eligible individuals.