The Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) is an American political organization in the

Puget Sound region The Puget Sound region is a coastal area of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, including Puget Sound, the Puget Sound lowlands, and the surrounding region roughly west of the Cascade Range and east of the ...

of the US state of

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

that organizes and advocates for older adults.

History

The Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action was founded in 1981 as an organization for retired union members and community activists. In 2001, PSARA affiliated with the

Alliance for Retired Americans The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and nonpartisan organization of retired trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO, which founded it in 2001. The group's membership also includes non-union, ...

(ARA). In 2002, the organization changed its name to the Puget Sound Council for Senior Citizens. In 2012, the organization disaffiliated with the ARA and changed its name to Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action.

Activities

PSARA advocates primarily for issues that affect older adults, including affordable healthcare, maintaining

Social Security Welfare spending is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifically to social insurance ...

, lowering prescription drug prices, reducing taxes and utility bills, affordable housing, and increased social services. In addition to lobbying, PSARA also engages in educational activities and publishes a monthly newsletter, ''The Retiree Advocate''. PSARA is an auxiliary group of the

Washington State Labor Council The Washington State Labor Council is the Washington branch of the AFL–CIO. It represents all AFL–CIO affiliates in state politics, and its major interest group, particularly for Democratic politicians. The organization was split when several n ...

and regularly partners with

Social Security Works Social Security Works is an American political advocacy group that calls for expansion of Social Security. It has over a million members and promotes health care as a human right. Social Security Works seeks lower drug prices. Nancy Altman and ...

and the Washington Fair Trade Coalition. Despite no longer being affiliated with the national organization, PSARA continues to work closely with the Washington state chapter of the ARA.

Notable Members

* Garry Owens, Seattle community organizer and former Black Panther *

Lonnie Nelson Lonnie Nelson (1932–2014), also known as Madelon Nelson and Madelon S. Healy, was an American labor, peace, civil rights, social justice, and Indigenous peoples activist in Seattle, Washington in the United States."Biographical Note" (Lonnie Nel ...

, Seattle labor activist * Jeff Johnson, former president of the Washington State Labor Council

References

{{reflist Seniors' organizations Puget Sound region Organizations based in Seattle 1981 establishments in Washington (state) Organizations established in 1981

History

Activities

Notable Members

Further reading

References