NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, has issued a new Solutions Brief, Saving Social Security, which offers a series of steps to shore up the critical federal retirement program for both the short term and long term.
The Solutions Brief?the latest in CED's Sustaining Capitalism series?sounds the alarm bells on Social Security's current trajectory: Without prompt action, Social Security's dedicated trust fund is projected to reach insolvency in 2033. This will result in sharp decreases in benefits or increases in demands for funds from the general account of the federal budget, exacerbating the already soaring budget deficit and debt problems.
Social Security, which provides more than 66 million Americans with benefits, is the largest component of the total federal budget and is the largest driver of long-term debt. With the US national debt ballooning over $34 trillion, annual deficits projected to average $2 trillion for the next 10 years, and debt servicing demanding a growing share of the federal budget, US fiscal policy needs urgent and comprehensive debt reduction and reform. Saving Social Security is an important part of this effort.
"This cornerstone program providing security and dignity to American retirees is at grave risk without an immediate and comprehensive effort by policymakers?in collaboration with private-sector leaders," said Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of CED. "Our fiscal policy cannot sustain its current dangerous and destabilizing path, and both our senior retirees and the future generations paying into Social Security deserve the leadership necessary to save and sustain the program. We must act now and the most viable vehicle for a solution is a comprehensive approach to the federal budget that can be achieved through a bipartisan congressional commission on fiscal responsibility."
Key Recommendations
Establish a Bipartisan Congressional Commission
Adjust Benefits
Raise Revenues
Better Invest the Trust Funds
Protect Vulnerable Populations of Retirees
About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Aheadtm. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.ConferenceBoard.org
The Committee for Economic Development (CED) is the public policy center of The Conference Board. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led organization delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions in the nation's interest. CED Trustees are chief executive officers and key executives of leading US companies who bring their unique experience to address today's pressing policy issues. Collectively, they represent 30+ industries and over 4 million employees. www.ced.org
SOURCE Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED)
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