Press Releases

Miami, Florida – Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced that starting in January 2015, Social Security's automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), designed to help meet increasing consumer prices, will increase benefit payments to Social Security recipients by 1.7 percent:

"With the Social Security Administration's announcement, over 100,000 Social Security beneficiaries in my district and over 4,000,000 in the State of Florida will receive the critical assistance they need to face the rising cost of basic necessities, including food and housing," said Congresswoman Wilson. "Social Security is a fundamental promise to our seniors: After a lifetime of work, a reliable source of income is available to retire with dignity and live independently. COLA increases are essential to keeping that promise."

Since 1975, Social Security benefits have been adjusted to ensure that beneficiaries purchasing power is not eroded by inflation, keeping millions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries from falling into poverty.

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus and serves as co-chair along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. The Florida Ports Caucus is a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.