The Pension Rights Center had a very exciting day on Tuesday as we joined with three other groups to unveil a new initiative called Retirement USA. Together with the Economic Policy Institute, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Service Employees International Union, we presented principles that would provide the basis for a new universal, secure, and adequate retirement system in addition to Social Security.
The Holman Lounge at the National Press Club was standing-room only. Attendees included not just reporters, but also representatives from retiree organizations, labor unions, think tanks, other public interest groups, the business community, and government agencies. One woman, a retired family economist, travelled all the way from Delaware for the event. There were even representatives from two foreign embassies! Clearly, we’re not the only ones who think that retirement security is an important issue.
The development of a new system is an ongoing dialogue and we invite you to comment on our principles and share proposals for a new system with the initiative. We’ll be discussing proposals for a new system at a conference in the fall. Visit the Retirement USA web site find out more about the launch, to read the principles, and to learn why we need to start developing a new system today.