/PRNewswire-/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today applauded the joint efforts of President Obama and Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush in ensuring that the American response to the crisis in Haiti is sustained over the long-term.
"On behalf of Haiti's children, we applaud the joint initiative of President Obama and Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to provide leadership, resources and visibility to the long term recovery effort," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
"When the media spotlight fades from the initial disaster relief, UNICEF and its partners will still be on the ground, working to build Haiti back and this cannot be accomplished with out sustained support. Though we cannot undo the damage of Tuesday's earthquake, we can decide to make Haiti's children a priority and work to ensure their childhoods are not irrevocably destroyed by its aftermath."
Efforts are underway to unload and deliver UNICEF emergency supplies and equipment that arrived in Port-au-Prince by plane in the early hours this morning. This first UNICEF shipment included water tanks, water purification tablets and rehydration salts. Clean water and sanitation are amongst the most important emergency relief needs following most emergencies, in particular to protect against the serious health risks posed by diarrheal infections and diseases.
Two more planes loaded with relief are planned for the weekend, carrying some 70 metric tons of tents, tarpaulin, and medicine.
Many of Haiti's public buildings and utilities have been destroyed. There is severe damage to hospitals, schools and the city's two seaports. This infrastructure damage has resulted in large scale displacement of people from their homes, into makeshift and overcrowded shelters.
As communications systems and infrastructure damaged by the earthquake that hit near Port au Prince on January 12 are slowly being repaired, precise information about the damage is still not available. According to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) some 3.5 million people are estimated to be in the areas affected by the earthquake and its aftershocks. Thousands are feared dead, many more injured and unknown numbers still buried under the rubble.
UNICEF efforts to assist with life-saving and recovery operations in Haiti will focus on clean water and sanitation, therapeutic food for infants and small children, medical supplies and temporary shelter.
To donate to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti and the Caribbean region, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
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Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Social Security COLA: Today's Zero COLA Announcement for 2010 Could Cost Average Senior $10,134
(BUSINESS WIRE)--This morning, the Social Security Administration is expected to announce that seniors will receive no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security checks next year.
President Obama’s call late yesterday for Congress to pass a one-time payment of $250 for seniors would make up just a tiny fraction of the amount seniors will lose throughout their retirement.
A senior retiring in 2009 with average benefits would lose $10,134 over the course of a 20-year retirement, due to the loss of the compounding effect of an average annual benefit increase of three percent, according to a recent analysis by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
PROBLEM
* The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) also forecasts a zero COLA for 2011. If there is no COLA for both years, a senior retiring in 2009 with average benefits would lose $20,144.
* Although the COLA is intended to help seniors keep up with inflation, a recent study by TSCL that analyzed 20 key expenditures found that people 65 and over have lost 20 percent of their buying power since 2000.
* Common senior expenses have soared since the beginning of the decade, such as Medicare Part B premiums (up 112 percent), heating oil (up 96 percent), and a dozen eggs (up 99 percent).
* Almost 70 percent of beneficiaries depend on Social Security for 50 percent or more of their income. Social Security is the sole source of income for 15 percent of beneficiaries.
SOLUTION
* The Emergency COLA Bill (H.R. 3557), introduced last month by Congressman Walter Jones (NC) and encouraged and promoted by TSCL from the beginning, would provide a COLA for 2010 equal to the average of the COLA over the past ten years. That average is roughly three percent.
* The bill would give the average beneficiary an additional $415.20 in Social Security payments in 2010, a boost of $34.60 per month.
* More importantly, the bill prevents seniors from losing the compounding effect of a COLA increase, which could result in thousands of dollars more throughout retirement for millions of seniors.
* In June, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) became the first national group to call for an Emergency COLA for 2010.
QUOTES
Daniel O’Connell, Chairman, The Senior Citizens League:
“With inflation rising faster than the COLA, it’s no surprise that more seniors are slipping into poverty than ever before. Since millions of seniors are desperate for an Emergency COLA next year, we encourage all seniors to contact their Members of Congress immediately.”
Shannon Benton, Executive Director, The Senior Citizens League
“Although President Obama’s call for a one-time payment of $250 will help seniors, it is not nearly enough to compensate for the rising costs seniors have been enduring for years. Today, a senior can buy just 80 percent of what they could have afforded at the beginning of the decade – and $250 does not address that terrible trend in an effective manner.”
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President Obama’s call late yesterday for Congress to pass a one-time payment of $250 for seniors would make up just a tiny fraction of the amount seniors will lose throughout their retirement.
A senior retiring in 2009 with average benefits would lose $10,134 over the course of a 20-year retirement, due to the loss of the compounding effect of an average annual benefit increase of three percent, according to a recent analysis by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
PROBLEM
* The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) also forecasts a zero COLA for 2011. If there is no COLA for both years, a senior retiring in 2009 with average benefits would lose $20,144.
* Although the COLA is intended to help seniors keep up with inflation, a recent study by TSCL that analyzed 20 key expenditures found that people 65 and over have lost 20 percent of their buying power since 2000.
* Common senior expenses have soared since the beginning of the decade, such as Medicare Part B premiums (up 112 percent), heating oil (up 96 percent), and a dozen eggs (up 99 percent).
* Almost 70 percent of beneficiaries depend on Social Security for 50 percent or more of their income. Social Security is the sole source of income for 15 percent of beneficiaries.
SOLUTION
* The Emergency COLA Bill (H.R. 3557), introduced last month by Congressman Walter Jones (NC) and encouraged and promoted by TSCL from the beginning, would provide a COLA for 2010 equal to the average of the COLA over the past ten years. That average is roughly three percent.
* The bill would give the average beneficiary an additional $415.20 in Social Security payments in 2010, a boost of $34.60 per month.
* More importantly, the bill prevents seniors from losing the compounding effect of a COLA increase, which could result in thousands of dollars more throughout retirement for millions of seniors.
* In June, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) became the first national group to call for an Emergency COLA for 2010.
QUOTES
Daniel O’Connell, Chairman, The Senior Citizens League:
“With inflation rising faster than the COLA, it’s no surprise that more seniors are slipping into poverty than ever before. Since millions of seniors are desperate for an Emergency COLA next year, we encourage all seniors to contact their Members of Congress immediately.”
Shannon Benton, Executive Director, The Senior Citizens League
“Although President Obama’s call for a one-time payment of $250 will help seniors, it is not nearly enough to compensate for the rising costs seniors have been enduring for years. Today, a senior can buy just 80 percent of what they could have afforded at the beginning of the decade – and $250 does not address that terrible trend in an effective manner.”
-----
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Family Research Council Action to Host National Townhall Webcast on Health Care Reform
www.frcaction.org/webcast
"National Townhall on Health Care Reform"
Thursday, September 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET
/PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, September 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET, FRC Action, the legislative lobbying arm of Family Research Council, will host a special one hour "National Townhall on Health Care Reform" Webcast. FRC Action President Tony Perkins will be joined by Congressional leaders and policy experts to discuss the moral, ethical, and financial dangers of President Obama's health care plan.
Webcast viewers will be able to:
* get their questions answered.
* dissect the dangers inherent in the President's proposed plan.
* and examine the life and death implications this will have for themselves and their loved ones
Who: Tony Perkins, President, FRC Action
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State
Cathy Ruse, Senior Fellow for Legal Studies, Family Research Council
Bishop Harry Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church
Wesley J. Smith, renowned ethicist
Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel
Dr. David Prentice, Senior Fellow for Life Sciences, Family Research Council
Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President, FRC Action
-----
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Georgia Front Page
"National Townhall on Health Care Reform"
Thursday, September 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET
/PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, September 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET, FRC Action, the legislative lobbying arm of Family Research Council, will host a special one hour "National Townhall on Health Care Reform" Webcast. FRC Action President Tony Perkins will be joined by Congressional leaders and policy experts to discuss the moral, ethical, and financial dangers of President Obama's health care plan.
Webcast viewers will be able to:
* get their questions answered.
* dissect the dangers inherent in the President's proposed plan.
* and examine the life and death implications this will have for themselves and their loved ones
Who: Tony Perkins, President, FRC Action
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State
Cathy Ruse, Senior Fellow for Legal Studies, Family Research Council
Bishop Harry Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian Church
Wesley J. Smith, renowned ethicist
Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel
Dr. David Prentice, Senior Fellow for Life Sciences, Family Research Council
Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President, FRC Action
-----
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