National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

About

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) is one of the nation's leading advocacy groups that fights to protect Social Security and Medicare, and is led by former Congresswoman, Barbara B. Kennelly. It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization representing the views of millions of members and supporters nationwide. The mission of the NCPSSM is to protect, preserve, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and the well being of current and future generations of Americans.

The National Committee is headquartered near [Hill] at 10 G Street NE in Washington D.C. where its policy analysts and lobbyists can easily communicate with Congress. The National Committee acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the board of directors and professional staff.

The organization's work is supported through annual membership dues and contributions. NCPSSM receives no federal, state or local government funding, and does not sell any products, services or goods, which distinguishes it from other national seniors' organizations. NCPSSM members actively participate in and support petition drives, letter campaigns, surveys and polls. To date, more than 74 million petitions and letters to Congress and the President have been signed by its members and supporters. The credibility and strength of the National Committee organization's influence has been attributed in the outcome of many important legislative initiatives. NCPSSM supported provisions in the new healthcare reform law that would strengthen Medicare including closing the Part D prescription drug “doughnut hole” by 2020, reducing billions in overpayments to private insurers in Medicare, eliminating copays for preventive care, and the passage of the Community Living Assistance Services and Support CLASS Act. The National Committee was the leading voice of opposition to the passage of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and it continues to fight for reforms to correct the many flaws in the current law. Other National Committee successes include the defeat of President's Bush's campaign to privatize Social Security in 2005, the passage of the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act in 2000 and the successful 1995 campaign against a proposed $270 billion in cuts to Medicare.

A team of experienced policy analysts and lobbyists meets regularly with Members of Congress and their staffs to present the National Committee's positions and make recommendations regarding current legislative proposals. Through its Political Action Committee, NCPSSM supports incumbents and challengers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to seniors' issues. Voting records, campaign questionnaires and candidate interviews are considered when determining PAC support. Grassroots activities are conducted through a national network of managers, Area Representatives, Advocacy Leaders, volunteers and a Washington D.C. Rally Corps. NCPSSM representatives organize and participate in workshops, forums, conferences, and exhibits to provide legislative updates, advocacy training and education all over the U.S.

History

NCPSSM was founded in 1982 by former Congressman James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who signed the Social Security Act into law. Two additional leaders of prominence have also headed the organization; from 1989 - 2001, former Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Martha A. McSteen, and the current President and CEO, former Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly, appointed in 2002. The National Committee’s Executive Vice President is Max Richtman. In 1994, NCPSSM was admitted as a member of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), a coalition of 64 of the nation's non-profit organizations serving older Americans. By unanimous vote in 1999, NCPSSM became one of five chairing organizations for LCAO and since then has successfully led the coalition twice. NCPSSM President and CEO Barbara B. Kennelly took over as chair of the LCAO for the 2010-2011 year starting in June. NCPSSM members elect the National Committee’s Board of Directors. The Board meets three times per year to provide strategic guidance and support for the work of NCPSSM staff. Leaders in business, government, policy, education, healthcare and advocacy fill the 14 board positions. The National Committee commemorated 25 years of advocacy in 2008 and launched the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, promote and ensure the financial security, health and well-being of current and future generations of Americans through research, analysis and public education.

Recent NCPSSM Accomplishments

2010- The National Committee supported measures to close the Part D prescription “Doughnut Hole” and strengthen Medicare for seniors in the Affordable Care Act. After the passing of health care reform, the National Committee continues to educate seniors about the new provisions in the law (closing of the “doughnut hole” by 2020, elimination of preventive care copays, and cuts for wasteful subsidies to private insurers in Medicare Advantage Plans, and the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS Act) by creating informational DVDs, YouTube videos and newsletters for its members and the general public available on its website.

2009 – The National Committee led the fight again (as in 2008) to make seniors eligible for stimulus checks. The initial proposal for the Recovery and Reinvestment Act targeted all workers but excluded non-working seniors. With our successful lobbying efforts, seniors were included in the final bill. This time seniors are not required to complete any IRS filings and will automatically receive checks.

2008 – The National Committee led the battle to stop the harmful "Medicare Trigger" that imposes an arbitrary 45 percent cap on the government's funding of Medicare. And they achieved victory, although temporary, convincing Congress to postpone this harmful provision of the Medicare Modernization Act for the next two years.

2008 – The National Committee led efforts to convince Congress to pass the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which reduced government subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans, improved benefits for mental health, and averted a 10.6 percent cut in fees to physicians who treat Medicare patients, helping to preserve beneficiary access to doctors and other practitioners.

2007 – The National Committee helped persuade the House to pass legislation strengthening Medicare for future generations and correcting many of the flaws in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.

2007 – The National Committee convinced Congress to increase funding levels and thereby prevent massive furloughs at the Social Security Administration. The National Committee successfully fought for increased funds, averting office closures all over the country in 2007. After continued intense lobbying, Congress approved funding for Fiscal Year 2008 at $451 million over the previous year's level, helping speed up disability reviews.

2005/2006 – The National Committee joined seniors’ advocates nationwide to thwart the most serious attempt ever to privatize Social Security, flooding Capitol Hill with petitions and letters to Congress and the White House reaffirming seniors' rejection of Social Security private accounts. The National Committee coordinated town hall meetings, Capitol Hill briefings, talk show appearances, and a member-supported media campaign to educate and inform lawmakers and the public about the destructive effects of Social Security privatization.

2004 – The National Committee helped save Social Security funds from being cut under a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment by demonstrating overwhelming grassroots opposition to H.J. Res. 22. With appeals from 1.4 million National Committee members and supporters, the Constitutional Amendment was pulled from consideration before a scheduled vote in the House Judiciary Committee.

2003 – The National Committee prevented the full privatization of Medicare by helping defeat a dangerous House bill calling for full premium support, while continuing the fight to fix the misguided Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 that passed in its place.

Ask Mary Jane

Recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the “best sources of help for questions about Social Security”, Ask Mary Jane invites Social Security recipients to ask policy expert Mary Jane Yarrington their questions on benefits. The National Committee keeps an archive of the questions and answers on its website.

National Committee Board of Directors

• Barbara Kennelly - President and CEO • Carroll L. Estes, Ph.D - Chair • Sandra G. Wagenfeld - Vice Chair • Patricia G. Archbold, D.N.Sc., R.N., Secretary • Catherine L. Dodd, Ph.D., RN • Mitchell T. Kaplan • Hans Riemer • Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Ph.D. • Shelly Shapiro, CPA, Treasurer • William Vaughan

References

www.ncpssm.org