Latinos for a Secure

Retirement:

2011 Year in Review

January 19: LSR coalition announced

9 members include: LULAC

LCLAA

Hispanic Federation

National Hispanic Council on Aging

SER- Jobs for Progress

National Association of Hispanic Elderly

MANA- A National Latina Organization

Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly

The American GI Forum

Roll out press call featured:

◦ Brent Wilkes (LULAC)

◦ Lillian Rodriguez (Hispanic Federation)

◦ Hector Sanchez (LCLAA)

◦ Jeff Cruz (LSR)

Release of Social Security plan

Protecting Social Security:

A Blueprint for

Strengthening Social Security

for All Americans

Generated dozens of

press clips

February 17 – Hill briefing with Center for

American Progress (CAP) Hector Sanchez (LCLAA)

Rep. Becerra

Rep. Schakowsy

Christian Weller (CAP)

Jeff Cruz (LSR)• Nancy Altman

(Social Security Works)

• Bob Greenstein

(Center on Budget and Policy

Priorities)

Resolution 15 01 - Supporting Social Security

This Resolution was Approved By the National Latino Congreso on Day 3, Sunday, March 27, 2011

Author: Mr. Chris Espinosa

Organization: Hispanic Federation

WHEREAS, Social Security is critical to the well being and economic security of Latinos, providing benefits to nearly one out of every six Latino households;

WHEREAS, Social Security is an essential social insurance program that protects Latinos and their families if they cannot work because of age or disability;

WHEREAS, Social Security benefits compromise nearly all the income for almost half, 44.2 percent, of Latino elderly households and represent over 75 percent of the total income of Latino elderly households receiving benefits;

WHEREAS, the average Social Security benefit in 2008 for Latino men over the age of 65 was only $12,213 and $9,536 for Latina women;

WHEREAS, the elderly Latino poverty rate would increase from around 18 percent to over 50 percent without Social Security;

WHEREAS, many members of the undocumented community pay into and support the Social Security Trust Fund and can only benefit from their investments when legalized and that these contributions are stabalizing Social Security for all United States citizens; and

WHEREAS, Social Security has never contributed a single penny to the national deficit and currently has a trust fund of more than $2.5 trillion;

WHEREAS, Social Security has always been “off-budget,” independent from the general U.S. budget with a dedicated revenue stream from payroll contributions;

WHEREAS, there are numerous plans to make Social Security fully solvent for the next 75 years without any cuts to benefits or increase in the retirement age.

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that organizations represented by delegates of the 2011 National Latino Congreso oppose any reduction in Social Security benefits or increase in the retirement age; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that organizations represented by delegates of the 2011 National Latino Congreso call on the President and the United States Congress to exclude Social Security from being a part of any legislation to reduce the federal deficit; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that organizations represented by the delegates of the 2011 National Latino Congresosupport efforts to protect and strengthen Social Security; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that organizations represented by the delegates of the 2011 National Latino Congreosupport efforts to ensure all deported persons that worked in this country and contributed their savings into the Social Security system receive payments whereever they may be

March 27–National Latino Congreso passes

LSR/Hispanic Federation‟s Social Security

resolution

April 6: LSR joins Democratic Seniors

Task Force to highlight the impact of the

2012 GOP Budget on American Seniors

“Latinos and Social Security:

¡Tu Futuro Cuenta!”May 3: First townhall in Philadelphia, PA. Local co-sponsors: Democracia USA, Congreso

de Latinos Unidos.

Approximately 80 – 100 attendees.

Speakers included representatives from LSR, NCLR, Philadelphia Mayor‟s Office, Sen. Casey‟s office, and the NCPSSM.

Dozens of media clips, including TV, radio and newspaper

“Latinos and Social Security:

¡Tu Futuro Cuenta!”

May 3: Philadelphia, PA youth

townhall Aimed at teaching young Latinos about how

Social Security works.

Approximately 25 attendees.

Don‟t make us work til we dieLSR participates in national “Don‟t make us work „til we die” campaign”

LULAC National

ConventionJuly 1: Panel organized by LSR for

LULAC‟s National Convention in

Cincinnati, Ohio

Speakers include representatives from:

LULAC, LCLAA, LSR, NCLR, and NASI

July 13: LSR policy brief and quiz on

proposed chained-CPI benefit cut

Generated dozens of print media clips

LSR and LULAC cohost townhall with

California Alliance for Retired

Americans

July 17: Billingual townhall in San

Diego, CA.

Opening remarks by Benny Diaz,

LULAC‟s CA State Director.

NCLR National Convention

July 24: LSR participates in panel on

Retirement Security at NCLR‟s national

convention in Washington, DC.

LCLAA‟s National Conference

August 5: Morning plenary session on

Retirement Security in San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

Medicare and Medicaid:

¡Reduciendo El Costo Del Cuidado

De Salud Para Todos! September 20: New report showing increasing the

Medicare age would cost Latinos $2.4 billion

Rep. Raul Grijalva and CEPR co-director Dean Baker participate with LSR on national press call

National Hispanic Medical Association joins LSR

Picked up by La Opinion and featured in Spanish newspapers across the country.

Generated multiple radio interviews

“Latinos and Social Security:

¡Tu Futuro Cuenta!”September 21: Townhall in Miami, Florida. Sponsored by LSR, NCLR and AARP

Approximately 200 attendees.

Participants include Mayor Regalado and representatives from LCLAA/LSR, AARP, NCLR and the Social Security Administration.

Dozens of media clips, including TV, radio and newspaper

Oct. 13: LSR participates in rally to

protect Medicare protect Medicare in

Boston, MA.

Releases new report showing the cost

to Massachusetts of raising the

Medicare age

Picked up by several Boston area

newspapers and blogs

“Latinos and Social Security:

¡Tu Futuro Cuenta!”October 21: Townhall in Boston, Massachusetts. Sponsored by LSR, NCLR, AARP, LULAC-Massachusetts, the

City of Boston Commission on Affairs of the Elderly, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), ¿Oiste?, La AlianzaHispana

Approximately 200 attendees.

Participants include Boston city council president Steve Murphy, Boston chief of human services Daphne Griffin, Massachusetts state representative Jeffrey Sanchez, city councilor Felix Arroyo, and representatives from LSR, LULAC, LCLAA, AARP, and NCLR.

Generated dozens of media clips, including several TV spots.

Nov 8: Illinois release featured Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans president

Nov 10: Florida release featured Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans president

LSR press calls to release state

reports in Illinois and Florida

LSR co-hosts and participates in

coalition

Social Security/Medicare RallyNovember 9th: Rally in Boston, Massachusetts. LSR executive director Jeff Cruz speaks at

event.

Over 1,000 attendees, after event march to Sen. Kerry and Sen. Brown‟s district offices.

Generated dozens of media clips.

Latinos for a Secure

Retirement:

2011 Year in Review

• Hosted 8 townhall events in strategic areas and a Washington DC briefing, directly reaching more than 1,000 people

• Spoke at 4 national public conferences

• Wrote and released 6 policy reports

• Generated more than 100 earned media clips

• Met with staff from more than a two dozen Congressional and Senate offices

• Participated in public events with 12 Congressmen.

Latinos for a Secure

Retirement