Co-Chairs Lynn Woolsey Raul Grijalva Congressional Progressive Caucus VlceChuirn http://cpc.qrijalva.house.qov Diane Watson kith Ellison 82 Strong and Growing: Open to New and Different \deas Sheila Jackson·Lee Mazie Hirono Dennis Kucinich Donna Edwards Alan Grayson Senate Memhers August 12, 2010 Roland Burris Bernie Sanders . House Members White House Neil Abercrombie Tammy Baldwin 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Xavier Becerra Washington, D.C. 20500 Earl Blumenauer Roben Brady Attn: National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Corrine Brown Michael Capuano Andre Carson Dear Me. Bowles and Sen. Simpson, . Donna Christensen JudyChu ¥velle Clarke We write to express our stl'Ong opposition to any potential proposal from your William "Lacy" Clay Emanuel Cleaver commission that would undermine Social Security by reducing benefits, increasing the Steve Cohen retirement age, or privatizing elements of the program. John Conyers Elijah Cummings Danny Davis Social Security runs an annual surplus of $100 billion, and is by law prohibited from Peter DeFazio Rosa DeLauro incurring any debt that would contribute to the national deficit. Because Social Security Sam FlIrT ChakaFallah is not the cause of our national deficit, attempts to reduce it by cutting benefits would be Bob Filner misguided. Barney Frank Marcia Fudge Luis Gutierrez For 75 years, Social Security has been a promise to the American people that if they John Hall Phil Hare work hard and pay their share, they will have a financially secure retirement. This Alcee Hastings Maurice Hinchey promise includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI), survivor benefits and retirement Michael Honda benefits. In communities across this country, Social Security benefits are often the only Jesse Jackson. Jr. Eddie Bernice thing helping families maintain a decent standard of living. We will not allow the Johnson commission to reduce Social Security payments, especially during an economic Hank Johnson Marcy Kaplur downturn that has wiped out trillions of dollars in net worth around the country. Carolyn Kilpatrick Barbara Lee John Lewis Any recommendations from your commission must be enacted by both houses of David Locbsack Ben Ray LujaJl Congress. If any of those recommendations cut or diminish Social'Security in any way, Carolyn Maloney we will stand firmly against them.. Ed Markey Jim McDermoll James McGovern George Miller Sincerelx Gwen Moore Jim Moran Jerrold Nadler Eleanor Holmes­ Nonon ~ UJ,.,,4~ John Olver Ra M. Lyn ~y Frank Pallone Ed Pastor Co-chair Co-chair Donald Payne Congressional Progr Congressional Progressive Caucus Chellie Pingree Jared Polis Charles Rangel Laura Richardson Steven Rothman Lucille Roybal-Allard Bobby Rush Linda Sanchez Jan Schakowsky Jose Serrano Louise Slaughter Pete St¥k Bennie Thompson John Tierney Nydia Velazquez Maxine Walers Mel Wall Henry Waxman Peter Welch .