Retirement USA Reveals Nation's Retirement Income Deficit at Launch of "Wake Up, Washington!" Month

Month-long Campaign Will Make Retirement Crisis a National Priority

At a press conference in Washington, D.C. today, Retirement USA released the Retirement Income Deficit – the gap between the pensions and retirement savings that American households have today and what they should have today to maintain their living standards in retirement.  Using conservative assumptions, the Retirement Income Deficit is estimated to be $6.6 trillion.  The figure was released as part of the launch of “Wake Up, Washington!” Month, a speak-out on retirement security, which runs from September 15 to October 15.

Speakers at the standing-room-only event included:

• Karen Friedman, Executive Vice President and Policy Director, Pension Rights Center
• Ross Eisenbrey, Vice President, Economic Policy Institute
• Maria Freese, Director of Government Relations and Policy, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
• Shareen Miller, Falls Church, VA, personal care assistant and member of SEIU
• Constance Canby Morton, Westmoreland County, VA
• Gail Dratch, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO

Read Maria Freese's remarks announcing the Retirement Income Deficit.

Press kit contents:

• Press release
• Fact sheet on the Retirement Income Deficit
• Fact sheet on "Wake Up, Washington!" Month
• A summary of polling data that shows retirement income is a high priority for most Americans
• Statistics that make the case for a new system
• Fact sheet on Retirement USA
• A list of organizations that support Retirement USA's Principles for a New Retirement System