From: Nigel.Allen@lambada.oit.unc.edu
Subject: End Notch Discrimination: National Director Dies
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:48:40 GMT

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." 
 -30- 


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