Hirono Fights To Ensure Social Security Increase For Seniors & Veterans

Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and a coalition of 15 other U.S. Senators to introduce the SAVE Benefits Act, legislation that would provide Social Security beneficiaries with a modest Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) starting in 2016. For only the third time in more than 40 years, seniors will not receive a COLA increase in 2016.

“In Hawaii, one out of four seniors relies on Social Security as their only source of income,” said Senator Hirono. “Many Hawaii seniors have told me their costs for essential goods keep rising, and yet there will be no Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment come January. This is why I support Senator Warren's SAVE Benefits Act- to provide our seniors with a modest Cost of Living increase next year. This bill is fully paid for by closing loopholes that currently give taxpayer benefits to millionaires and billionaires.”

Senator Hirono also took to the Senate floor to highlight the need for the SAVE Benefits Act’s average $580 increase, especially as seniors face higher costs for medication and basic necessities.

Click on the photo below to watch Senator Hirono’s floor speech.

The SAVE Benefits Act is supported by AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance for Retired Americans, The ARC of the United States, B'nai B'rith International, Campaign for America's Future, Center for Community Change, Center for Effective Government, CREDO, Daily Kos, Democracy for America, Economic Opportunity Institute, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Justice in Aging, MoveOn.org, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Council of La Raza, National Organization for Women, OWL-the Voice of Women 40+, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action, Social Security Works, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, UltraViolet, and VoteVets.

A fact sheet about the bill is available here, and text of bill is available here.