Nurses getting involved in policymaking.

2. Introduction
 Aging in America has not been easy within the last few
decades.
 Who is in charge of aiming to help the millions of Americans
safeguard the current Social Security Program (SSP)?
 How does the United States plan on continuing to make pay-
outs to all who have contributed to the program?
 What is the master plan on this issue?

3.  Since 1983, workers have been paying more in Social Security taxes
than what was needed to pay retiree benefits (Wolfson, 2014).
 Concerns regarding the SSP are always on Senator, Bernie Sander’s
mind.
 Senator Sander’s proposes raising income taxes on the wealthy to
save the current SSP.
 Senator Sander’s has formulated recommendations to tax the
wealthy in order to extend the life of the entitlement program and
increase benefits.

4.  Visit Description
 Discussion with a policymaker or office/administrative staffer is an
ideal way to construct a professional relationship, not only are they
a trusted source of information but their advice is invaluable.
 The scavenger hunt was initiated by searching for the appropriate
individual to contact.
 Contact was made with Senator Sander’s office and a message was
left requesting the name of the person who manages education
issues.
 Hectic schedules swarm the desk of governmental employees.

5.  The discussion with Senator Sander’s , staffer, Ian was an
excellent source for getting questions answered.
 Besides names, the introduction included representation of
myself as a Chamberlain School of Nursing Masters level
student and the goal for the call, which was to discuss Senator
Sander’s plan on making progress with and protecting and
strengthening the SSP.
 Senator Sander’s is someone who is compassionate for
improving older adult programs such as the SSP.

6.  The significance of Social Security to the economic well-being
of current retirees is obvious (Polivka, 2012).
 Social Security is the financial protection that is etched in the
minds of all who contribute to it in their lifetime.
 Who will be responsible for advocating and protecting the
Social Security system?

7.  What plan should be initiated in order to keep Social Security
benefits alive?
 How do you see the future of the SSP?
 These are the questions proposed in the presentation to
Senator Sander’s office.

8.  Policymaker Response
 Senator Sander’s office was accommodating and eager to
assist in answering any questions or providing feedback on the
Senator’s current involvement and how he is proposing to
make a difference in the status quo.
 Discussed is Senator Sander’s 12 initiatives plan.
 Initiative 1: A need for a major investment to rebuild the
current devastating infrastructure such as: construction, waste
and water systems, transportation and educational institutions.

9.  Initiative 2: Energy transformation due to climate change is
required into sustainable energy such as, wind or solar .
 Initiative 3: Create jobs and produce goods in the United
States and give tax breaks.
 Initiative 4: Union workers who are able to collectively
bargain for higher wages and benefits earn significantly more
than non-union workers, therefore the ability to form a union
should be allowed.

10.  Initiative 5: A raise in the minimum wage.
 Initiative 6: Males and females should earn the same pay for the
same job.
 Initiative 7: Keep jobs at home, avoid outsourcing and end
disastrous trade policies.
 Initiative 8: Make higher education affordable.
 Initiative 9: The banking industry must be broken up, to avoid huge
profit for individual institutions.

11.  Initiative 10: Create a change in the current healthcare system,
to implement a progressive tax system that is based on the
ability to pay.
 Initiative 11: Strengthen Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid.
 Initiative 12: Need a progressive tax system-based on the
ability to pay.

12.  The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has found
that voluntary enrollment in the 401(k) plans under the current
set of tax incentives has the potential to generate a sum that,
when combined with Social Security benefits, would replace a
sizeable portion of a worker’s preretirement income, and that
auto-enrollment could produce even larger retirement
accumulations (VanDerhei, 2011).
 The next step in this process is to see how the 12 initiative
plan is accepted by the policymakers. Follow progress to the
SSP by viewing Senators, Social Security web sites, and other
resources.

13.  A formal “thank you” email was sent to Senator Sanders office
for providing necessary information.
 Ideas for continued and future advocacy pertaining to Social
Security would be to continue to stay on top of news that
affects this issue.
 The role of nurses for continued and future advocacy is to
remain active in their chosen policy issue, add value by
participating in and seeking positive changes that will better
the future for generations to come.

14. Reflections on Process
 Make appropriate contact early on in the process is key to
obtaining the necessary information, which is helpful in
achieving the goal.
 The SSP is in dire need of reformation, if its recipients are to
continue receiving benefits.
 As part of retirement planning, it is important to understand
the Social Security (SS) number and “do the math’ regarding
the optimum age for you to begin receiving SS payments
(Hultman, 2011).

15.  Future Opportunities
 Congress is conspiring to cut benefits for future generations of
seniors. Nurses are fighting back (Bloice, 2010).
 Staying connected with Senator Sander’s 12 initiatives proposal is
important and knowing the outcome of the proposal is even more
important.
 Following Senators who are heavily involved with creating a better
future for our generations regarding Social Security benefits is a
pathway that all Americans should be on.

16. Conclusion
 The rising population of older people, combined with slow
economic growth, prevents worldwide challenges to the
development and maintenance of adequate pension and healthcare
systems (Polivka & Luo, 2013).
 What changes need to occur to the current SSP and where do we go
from here?
 Support of Senator Sander’s along with nurses is critical if we, as a
nation, want the communities voices heard regarding the SSP. This
is the time to take action and call the Whitehouse, representative in
Congress or write a letter to your local newspaper and tell them to
take their hands off of Social Security.

17.  Bloice, C. (2010). The great Social Security and Medicare robbery. National Nurse, 106(5),
 12-15.
 Ghilarducci, T. (2010). How to supplement Social Security fairly and effectively. Journal of
 Aging and Social Policy, 22(2), 222-235. doi: 10.1080/089594210036211853
 Hultman, J. (2011). A thought regarding Social Security. Podiatry Management, 30(6), 217-
218.
 Polivka, L.J. (2012). A future out of reach? The growing risk in the U.S. retirement security
 system. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 36(2), 12-17.
 Polivka, L., & Luo, B. (2013). The future of retirement security around the globe.
Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 37(1), 39-45.

18.  Protect and strengthen Social Security (n.d.). National Nurses United web site. Retrieved
 from http://www.nationalnurseunited.org/pages/project-and-strenthen-social-security
 VanDerhei, J. (2011). Tax reform options: Promoting retirement security. Employee Benefit
 Research Institute, 364.
 Wolfson, M. (2014). The $17 trillion delusion: The absurdity of cutting Social Security to
 reduce the debt. Dollars & Sense, 30(6), 217-218.