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Public Program: The Brooks Family Lecture - "The Coming Battles over Social Security" with Michael Astrue

Please join us for the Brooks Family Lecture presented by Michael Astrue entitled, “The Coming Battles over Social Security,” in Filene Auditorium, Moore Hall at 5:30 pm on October 27, 2014.

Social Security has remained a source of controversy as the United States considers how it can reconcile the program’s increasing costs with budgetary demands. The current gridlock raises questions as to how we can address disability and retirement in the United States. Additionally, it is important to discuss what will happen with Social Security looking forward.

Michael Astrue, the former Commissioner of Social Security, will discussing the implications of the insolvency of the disability trust fund in 2016 and the insolvency of the retirement and survivors trust fund in 2033. How will we fix disability? How will we fix retirement?

 

 

 

Former Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue
Michael Astrue has split his career between public service and the biotechnology industry. He led one of the most successful turnarounds in the history of the industry as CEO of Transkaryotic Therapies and served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. He also worked for thirteen years in senior positions in four Administrations. Among other positions, he served in the Reagan and Bush White Houses as Associate Counsel to the President, and as General Counsel of HHS (1989-1992), where he personally litigated the first federal HIV discrimination and patient dumping enforcement cases.
As Commissioner of Social Security (2007-2013) he reported directly to Presidents Bush and Obama. He overhauled the agency’s antiquated IT systems and electronic services, reduced backlogs, created fast tracks for patients with severe rare disorders, and significantly improved the economic information provided to the public, particularly to women, as they make retirement choices. A graduate of Yale and Harvard Law School, he has received two honorary degrees and numerous awards, including the Public Health Award from the National Organization of Rare Disorders and Humanitarian of the Year from the Alzheimer’s Association.
 
This event is hosted by the College Republicans.