Harrisonburg, Va.—Virginia Organizing hosted a gathering in Harrisonburg over Memorial Day weekend to bring together leaders from Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. to develop plans to protect and strengthen Social Security.

Virginia Organizing Treasurer Jay Johnson helped lead the events of the weekend. Johnson said, “It was great to meet with other people from this region to strategize how to build power and make sure Social Security is not only protected, but also made stronger, for generations to come.”

Over the weekend, the group discussed ways to improve Social Security without cutting benefits or changing the way that cost of living adjustments are made.

“Virginia Organizing wants Congress to ‘Scrap the Cap’ on Social Security taxes to make sure those whoearn more than $117,000 are paying into Social Security based on their actual earnings, not just the first part of their income,” said Johnson. “We also support providing a caregiver credit to ensure that those who take time off work to care for a loved one aren’t penalized for this in Social Security earning calculations.”

Virginia Organizing has repeatedly requested commitments from U.S. Senator Mark Warner to protect and strengthen the program and protect those receiving Social Security from any cuts.

Photos are available by clicking here. To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.