Yiyang Wang, Online Outreach Intern

This week the U.S. House Committee on the Budget held a hearing on the progress of the War on Poverty. While poverty remains painfully high as the United States struggles to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression, social insurance and safety net programs are lifting millions out of poverty. And the nation’s most effective anti-poverty program is Social Security. Without Social Security, a staggering 25 million more Americans – and half of women 65 and older would fall below the poverty line.

Despite the critical importance of Social Security to Americans’ economic security, lawmakers are considering cutting Social Security benefits by switching to the chained consumer price index (CPI) to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and other programs. But the chained CPI would actually lower the cost-of-living adjustments and the cuts would get deeper every year. 

Despite the terrible heat wave that is currently enveloping Washington DC, representatives from a plethora of organizations and offices showed their support on the Capitol steps at an event on the women’s economic agenda. Not only was the event a great platform to discuss ways to improve the lives of working women, it was a great gathering spot for likeminded people who are passionate about improving women’s lives. To make the day even more special, we observed the 165th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in American history.

The list of speakers was impressive: Leader Pelosi was joined by Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Doris Matsui, Nydia M. Velasquez, Donna Edwards and special guests who shared their personal stories. Each story highlighted the need for us to strengthen certain economic investments to help women and their families.