The National Committee Celebrates 35 Years

Welcoming Congresswoman Dingell (MI-12) to the reception were (L to R) Dr. Catherine Dodd, NCPSSM Board Chair, and Max Richman, NCSPSSM President/CEO

On November 7, 2017, a gathering of colleagues, allies, and current and former Members of Congress joined together to mark the 35 years of the National Committee’s advocacy and accomplishments on behalf of American seniors, workers, the disabled and their families. Founded in 1982 by Congressman James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, the National Committee has built a reputation as a credible source and one of the nation’s most effective organizing and advocacy groups that champions the protection of health and retirement security programs.

During an interview about the founding of the National Committee, James Roosevelt said, “It seemed to me that if we could think of a way of organizing seniors and making their force and their feelings felt by the members of the Congress, that this would ensure that this system, this Social Security system survived and would be improved.”

During the celebration, the Executive Conference Room was dedicated in honor of Congressman Roosevelt.  In a personal statement, his son James Roosevelt, Jr., Vice Chair of the National Committee’s Advisory Board, said, “My father understood that while the creation of the Social Security program was a political victory for President Roosevelt, more importantly it is his living legacy for generations of Americans; a legacy that would have to be defended and protected again and again.”

Defend and protect? We do. National Committee members are engaged and they actively participate in petition drives, letter campaigns, surveys and polls. To date, more than 90 million petitions and letters to Congress and the President have been signed and delivered by our members and supporters. The credibility and strength of the National Committee’s influence has been attributed to the success or defeat of many legislative initiatives over our long history.

A team of highly experienced policy analysts and lobbyists, an influential Political Action Committee, energized volunteers in their bright yellow shirts and the clear voice of our members and supporters are the National Committee’s most powerful assets, assets which continue to ensure the Roosevelt legacy for future generations of Americans.