There have been many diaries as of late on Social Security and I have been avoiding writing one because so many good diaries have already been writing on the subject. However, I would really like to help put pressure on our legislators with regard to Social Security reform.
I think it is important to look at how the reforms would affect women. I was pleased to see that Rep. Rosa Delauro submitted a resolution in the House recognizing what Social Security currently provides to women.
HRES 61 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 61
Recognizing the unique effects that proposals to reform Social Security may have on women.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 1, 2005
Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. SOLIS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. LEE, Ms. WATERS, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Ms. WATSON, Mrs. LOWEY, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. HONDA, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. STARK, and Mr. AL GREEN of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the unique effects that proposals to reform Social Security may have on women.
Whereas Social Security is a successful, efficient middle-class retirement program;
Whereas Social Security provides a predictable, guaranteed benefit for women, who tend to live longer than men and have fewer lifetime earnings;
Whereas the Social Security benefit structure is of particular importance to low-wage women, especially widows and wives of retirees;
Whereas Social Security is the only source of retirement income for 29 percent of unmarried elderly women;
Whereas women represent 58 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries aged 62 and older and approximately 70 percent of beneficiaries aged 85 and older;
Whereas without Social Security, 52 percent of white women, 65 percent of African American women, and 61 percent of Hispanic women over 65 years of age would live in poverty;
Whereas women reaching age 65 in 2004 are expected to live, on average, an additional 20 years compared with 17 years for men;
Whereas women's earnings relative to men are 77 percent in 2002;
Whereas at the end of 2003, women's average monthly retirement benefit was $798, and men's average benefit was $1,039;
Whereas elderly women are less likely than elderly men to have significant income from pensions other than Social Security; and
Whereas for unmarried women--including widows--aged 65 and older, Social Security comprises 52 percent of their total income, contrasted with 38 percent of unmarried elderly men's retirement income and 35 percent of elderly couples' income:
Now, therefore, be it resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the unique obstacles that women face in ensuring retirement security and survivor and disability stability and the essential role that Social Security plays in guaranteeing inflation-protected financial stability for women throughout their entire old age, and it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress and the President should take these factors into account when considering proposals to reform the Social Security system.
END
Actually, I don't really think that the resolution recognizes the unique effects that proposals to reform Social Security may have on women. But it does certainly outline the factors that need to be taken into account when considering proposals on reform to the Social Security system.
I would think that several studies would need to be done to find out how various receivers of Social Security would be affected by the proposed reform by George Bush. I think George Bush is so out of touch with reality that he cannot even conceive of how Social Security funds are actually supporting a wide range of people.
I am hoping women's groups will join our fight against Social Security privatization because of their desire to be advocates for women.