NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5333

Text File | 1992-07-25 | 3.7 KB | 74 lines

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Subject: End Notch Discrimination: National Director Dies
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Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:48:40 GMT
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press release from End Notch Discrimination

 National Director Dies Three Days Before Scheduled Congressional
Testimony
 To: National Desk
 Contact: Jennifer Graham or Beth Stover, both of End Notch
          Discrimination Inc., 202-628-6260

   ARCADIA, Calif., July 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Harold Kendler,
national legislative director of End Notch Discrimination (END), died
on July 20, just three days before he was due to testify before
Congress about the plight of notch victims, the 10 million senior
citizens born between 1917 and 1921 who receive significantly fewer
social security benefits than other retirees.
   Kendler, a notch victim himself, was a leader for several years in
the fight to rectify the imbalance in benefits resulting from notch
discrimination.  He was scheduled to testify Thursday, July 23,
before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security on the
effects of notch discrimination.  A.W. Westphal, vice president and
secretary of END, will speak in Kendler's place.
   On July 13, Kendler released a statement calling on Congress to
put the issue of notch discrimination to an early vote, citing the
fact that a majority of members of Congress are cosponsors of
corrective legislation.  In his statement, he decried the fact that
congressional gridlock continues to prevent a vote despite the
legislation's overwhelming support.  Noting the advanced age of all
notch victims, he urged Congress, "Don't wait until we die.  Give us
the dignity of a vote now to end notch discrimination."
   Westphal, who will deliver the organizations testimony in the
July 23 hearings, said "The loss of Harold Kendler is a tragedy for
the notch victims for whom he struggled tirelessly.  It is ironic
that his message to Congress, 'Don't wait until we die,' has so far
fallen on deaf ears.  We hope that Mr. Kendler's death will spur
Congress to act on behalf of other notch victims who are too elderly
to wait."
   Westphal also expressed END's outrage at a quote in the July 21
Congress Daily, from an unnamed House Ways and Means Committee
staffer who said that Chairman Dan Rostenkowski has "no intention to
legislate at the moment" on the notch discrimination bill.  The
staffer was also quoted as saying the July 23 hearings are "the one
hearing we give them every five years."
   "These statements by a Ways and Means Committee staffer are the
epitome of cynicism and misused power," said Westphal.  "Members of
Congress told notch victims to do our grassroots lobbying and we did.
We have overwhelming support.  Now we are told that a committee head
can prevent the bill from ever coming to the floor and that they are
trying to pacify us with a meaningless hearing.  Notch victims are
old, but we're not powerless.  Five years from now will be too late
for most of us.  Tomorrow is too late for Harold Kendler.  But we
believe in the American system and we believe that the power of 288
congressional cosponsors is greater than that of an unelected staffer
who clearly holds our cause in contempt.  We will work with our
committed congressional leaders in whatever strategy it takes to get
all Harold Kendler asked for -- the decency of a vote in Congress on
this issue.  Let elected officials go on record.  Don't wait until
more of us die."
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