On Sunday, January 5, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. The U.S. House of Representatives had passed the bill (HR 82) in November by a vote of 327-75 and sent it to the Senate. The U.S. Senate on December 21st passed their bill (S.597) by a vote of 78-20 and sent it to the White House. It is now law!
In his initial days in office, President Biden addressed one of the most pressing concerns for Americans: rising inflation in healthcare. He signed the Inflation Reduction Act shortly after his inauguration, which relieved millions of Americans struggling to afford their medication, particularly insulin. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act provided protection against the soaring costs of prescription drugs. It included a crucial provision that countered a 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Act mandate, preventing consumers from facing excessive price hikes.
The last few months have been tumultuous in the White House, causing widespread speculation about a potential government shutdown. As an organization, we strongly encourage all our members to reach out to their Congress members. Urge them to prioritize funding for both Amtrak and the Railroad Retirement Board. Our mission has always been to assist elected representatives to help them understand the complexities of the railroad retirement system. It is important to note that even today, many members of Congress need to be made aware of our situation under the Railroad Retirement Act, which underscores the critical nature of our advocacy efforts.