Helping Social Security Recipients

Statement

This week I announced plans by House Democrats to move forward with legislation next month to provide Social Security recipients with a one-time $250 payment due to their not being a Cost-of-Living-Adjustment for 2011.

Social Security
On Monday I announced that House Democrats will move ahead with legislation to provide Social Security recipients with a one-time $250 payment. The Social Security Administration announced last week that there will be no automatic Cost-of-Living-Adjustment for 2011. That means that for the first time ever, 2011 will be the second consecutive year that Social Security retirees, veterans, and people with disabilities will see no increase in their monthly Social Security, SSI, VA Pension and Compensation, and Railroad Retirement benefits. There will be a vote on the measure next month.

Infant Mortality
Last Saturday I spoke at the Sisters in Motion Project 38108 5K Run/Walk for Infant Mortality Awareness about legislation I authored -- the NEWBORN Act -- to combat infant mortality. My measure would address the growing problem of infant mortality through a national pilot program to promote pre-natal care, community outreach and youth education.

Memphis has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. The infant mortality rate of a nation is an important indicator of that nation's overall health. It is an issue that sweeps from urban to rural communities across our country. We must do more to make sure women have the resources they need to deliver healthy babies.

Afterschool Programs
Yesterday I spoke at the Memphis Leadership Foundation's 11th Annual Lights On Afterschool nationwide celebration. Afterschool programs often serve as the cornerstone of a child's day. The Memphis Leadership Foundation's afterschool program has a wonderful record of keeping our children off the streets. It is vital that successful afterschool programs like this continue to receive the funding they need so our kids can go on to lead happy, healthy, productive lives.

When I was a State Senator, I fought tirelessly for more than 20 years to initiate and pass the Tennessee Lottery to fund college scholarships, after-school programs, and pre-K education for Tennessee's students. Lottery afterschool program grants that I also passed (known as the LEAP Program) award approximately $14 million per year of unclaimed prize money for afterschool programs.

In Congress, I strongly support the $35 million budget increase for the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool initiative which is included in the FY2011 House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. If passed, this would be a great investment for thousands of programs across America.

Celebrating Women's Advances
I attended a gala in New York City earlier this week, "50 and Fabulous -- Celebrating 50 years of Women's Advances Since the Pill." I was invited to attend because of my long support for women's rights, especially reproductive rights. I was the only member of Congress present. I was seated at a table with Dr. Ruth and Today Show reporter Jill Martin. Fellow Memphian Cybill Shepherd was the emcee for the evening. Proceeds benefitted the National Institute for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Profamil Haiti.

Helmet to Helmet Hits
This week I met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the League's efforts to penalize players who purposely make hits to the head. While injuries are a routine part of football my colleagues and I on the House Judiciary Committee are concerned with the responses of coaches, team doctors, owners and the League when players are hurt on the field, and that is why we have held several hearings across the country on head injuries in youth, high school, college and professional football programs.

I commended the Commissioner for changing NFL policy to deal with serious head injuries but told him suspensions would go much further than fines. I also told him the NFL should consider taking brain scans of players before and after the season, and compare those results to help better protect them. Earlier this year during Super Bowl XLIV weekend I was honored to receive an award from the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund and the Lombardi Foundation for my ongoing work on the House Judiciary Committee to make football safer for players of all ages.

Civil Rights
I also spoke at the American Bar Association's conference, "More to Overcome: Civil Rights in the 21st Century." I discussed my lifelong commitment to Civil Rights and my leadership in Congress on Civil and Human Rights issues, and my recommendations on how the legal profession can address these concerns.

It was appropriate that this conference was held in Memphis, which has played such an important role in the civil rights movement. We struggle today to ensure equal rights not just for African-Americans, but also for women, gays, the disabled, and anyone else who finds the doors of opportunity not completely open to them. We have clearly made tremendous progress in this nation over the last few decades, but we have much further to go.

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