With 1.2 million supporters, TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups

Our mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. TSCL consists of vocally active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Social Security Medicare, and veteran or military retiree benefits.

TSCL was first established as a special project of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA). On January 1, 1995, TSCL became an independent 501[c][4] citizens' action organization.

The TSCL Board of Directors and staff <http://www.seniorsleague.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=17&Itemid=44> are all dedicated to helping seniors. The following services provided by TSCL are considered primary and essential to the betterment of the quality of life of our nation's senior citizens:

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Distribution of public awareness and educational materials,

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Enlistment of senior citizens in grass-roots lobbying campaigns <http://www.seniorsleague.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1117&Itemid=115> on issues affecting retirees (civilian and military), and

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Ensuring that governmental bodies <http://www.seniorsleague.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1120&Itemid=118> live up to any commitment made to senior citizens.

TSCL members <http://www.seniorsleague.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=16&Itemid=41> enjoy special benefits, including:

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Eligibility for our Rx Savings Plus Presciption Drug Discount Card

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Participation in our efforts to protect your Social Security and Medicare benefits

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Ability to access helpful and money-saving information

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Subscription to The Social Security & Medicare Advisor newsletter

TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) consists of active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Social Security, Medicare, and veteran or military retiree benefits.

Although not at first called TREA Senior Citizens League, TSCL was first established in 1992 as a special project of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), which was founded in 1963. In September 1994, TSCL was incorporated in Colorado as an independent citizens' action and education non-profit organization. It received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt section 501(c)(4) organization in June 1995.

There are over 1,300,000 active members/supporters. Men comprise 55 percent of TSCL membership. Approximately three-quarters of the membership are between the ages of 76 and 85. Nearly all are over the age of 60. Most either served in the Armed Forces during World War II or played a part in the war effort. The heaviest concentrations of TSCL members/supporters are in California, Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

These senior citizens and retirees have participated in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns on behalf of TSCL. Issues currently being pursued include:

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The prevention of arbitrary changes in the way Cost-of-Living Adjustments to earned benefits are calculated, and a campaign to have the senior citizen "market basket" analyzed on its own before any changes are made in the way the Consumer Price Index is calculated;

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The passage of long-overdue Notch reform for those persons born in the Social Security Notch years of 1917-1926;

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The development of an understanding on Capitol Hill and in the White House that those who are already retired from the civilian or military work force have been promised benefits by the government, have earned those benefits with their taxes and their service, and that taking those benefits away amounts to breaking a contract and reneging on the government's solemn duty to fulfill its obligations.

To pursue its goals, TSCL distributes a newsletter (The Social Security & Medicare Advisor) ten times a year to approximately 150,000 of the most active supporters and to all Members of Congress, and has sent out more than one and a half million books

and pamphlets, such as The Notch Victim's Handbook, In Defense of Earned Benefits, and The Senior Activist's Survival Manual.

TSCL is registered to conduct grassroots fundraising, public education and lobbying activities in nearly every state, and offers its supporters an unconditional refund of their most recent contribution if they are dissatisfied with TSCL's positions or performance. Unlike many other organizations, no government moneys are accepted or used by TSCL.

TSCL has also raised funds for its affiliated organization (TREA Memorial Foundation) which provides scholarships and other assistance to the widows and offspring of retired enlisted personnel of the United States Armed Forces, and made a $50,000 donation to the Governor of Oklahoma's fund to aid victims of the April 19, 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City, and to seniors devastated by hurricanes in Puerto Rico, and most recently to the Delaware USO to assist in their recovery and identification efforts following the terrorist attacks on September 11th.

Social Security Issues

COLA Fairness

- TSCL strongly believes that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that seniors are currently receiving does not accurately reflect how they must spend their money. The COLA, upon which Social Security benefits for seniors are based, is a consumer price index (CPI) that reflects how young urban workers tend to spend their money and substitute products when prices fluctuate. Older Americans spend a disproportionate share of their household budget on health care. Since health care costs are rising so fast - and since most health care spending cannot be substituted out for something cheaper - TSCL believes that seniors would be better served if their COLA was based upon a different consumer price index, one that already in fact exists.

Totalization Agreement

- If the President signs the final Executive Totalization Social Security Agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, it could lead to Social Security benefits going to individuals who worked in the U.S. without legal authorization. Despite the efforts of TSCL and others, knowledge of the Totalization Agreement remains limited on Capitol Hill and the issue flies under radar for the most part. TSCL has expressed its support for resolutions opposed to the Totalization Agreement. TSCL has placed ads in The Washington Times in opposition to the proposed agreement and will continue to closely monitor the Totalization matter during the upcoming session of Congress.

Notch Reform

- The Senior Citizens League members and supporters tend to be older, less affluent seniors. They are also, to a large extent, Notch babies - those individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter. TSCL feels that this is an inequity that was brought about because of the Social Security Act Amendments enacted and signed into law in 1977. Just years before they were set to retire, these individuals discovered they would have significantly lower benefits than originally anticipated. And the problem only grew and compounded with the inflation that occurred in the early 1980s. Thus, in order to make the Social Security program more equitable in general, and to correct a wrong done to Notch babies, we believe that some recompense for that injustice should be provided.

Social Security Reform

- TSCL fears among other things that a new Notch could be created in a transition to a private accounts-based Social Security. Also, TSCL members generally believe that such privatization approaches could further drain the Social Security Trust Fund. Finally, it is thought that the private accounts venture would be at least partially financed by cutting the benefits of current or soon-to-be retirees. Because TSCL believes that Social Security was developed and implemented to be a safety net, insurance and pension system, it strongly opposes such proposed changes to the current system.

Medicare Issues

A prescription drug benefit program, also known as Medicare Part D, was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Although this program provides seniors with some assistance to help offset the soaring costs of their prescriptions, it is far from ideal. The price of many prescription drugs dramatically increased after the benefit was implemented and continues to do so. This is due in large part to the cost of brand name and specialty drugs for which there is no generic or lower-cost alternative. These medications are often placed in "specialty tiers" that significantly drives up out-of-pocket costs and can cause beneficiaries to hit the doughnut-hole gap in coverage sooner.

TSCL is supportive of increasing and improving outreach to seniors, especially those individuals that could qualify for Extra Help. Simplifying and streamlining the application process would also be a vast improvement the program.

In addition soaring prescription costs, the Medicare Part B deductible has steadily increased due to mandated annual indexing. TSCL is supportive of legislation that would eliminate the means, or asset, test used to determine one's premium. Seniors should not be punished for attempting to plan for their retirement.