Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Opposing Social Security Administration office closures and other cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.
Body
WHEREAS, neighborhood Social Security offices and employees have faithfully served the public in communities across the country since 1935; and,
WHEREAS, Social Security benefits is the best protection against falling into poverty for Americans since its inception in 1935; and,
WHEREAS, local Social Security offices, staffed with trained civil servants across the nation, provide direct service in person and by telephone to millions of Americans each year; and,
WHEREAS, 20 percent of staff in local Social Security Administration offices in your community are veterans; and,
WHEREAS, 9.7 million of Americans receiving Social Security benefits are veterans; and,
WHEREAS, millions of veterans and their families depend on their monthly checks from Social Security for housing and food; and,
WHEREAS, older adults are the fastest growing population of homelessness, including thousands of veterans and families; and,
WHEREAS, 10,000 American reach retirement age each day; and,
WHEREAS, as of 2022, 94,880 Dane County residents received Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits on a monthly basis; and,
WHEREAS, staffing at the Social Security Administration has fallen to a 50-year low while workloads have increased; and,
WHEREAS, the current Administration has announced a plan to cut staff dramatically to take federal tax dollars from our communities and transfer those dollars to billionaires by reducing their taxes; and,
WHEREAS, cutting costs leads to closing neighborhood Social Security offices, a dozen of which have already been announced; and,
WHEREAS, millions of American depend on nearby offices for filing for benefits, resolving problems with payments, work records, generate SSN’s, provide replacement cards, income and award letters and assist with disability issues; and,
WHEREAS, there is a Social Security Office within Madison, located on Odana Road; and,
WHEREAS, more than 79 million Americans receive Medicaid and the U.S. House budget resolution in 2025 plans steep cuts to provide tax breaks for the 1%; and,
WHEREAS, Medicare serves more than 68 million Americans and is targeted for cuts by the current Administration, to cut taxes on the richest Americans;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council voices their opposition to any and all closing of Social Security offices, staffing cuts, and Social Security benefits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council voices their support for robust staffing and local office facilities to serve the public in a timely manner in this community and all communities across the state and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council voices their opposition to state and federal cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security benefits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council voices its support of House Bills such as “Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act” and “Protecting Americans Social Security Data Act,” as well as Senate Bill 393, “The Social Security Expansion Act.”
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the offices of Governor Tony Evers, Representative Mark Pocan, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Senator Ron Johnson.