J. Astrue Sworn in as Commissioner of Social Security

[Guest guest]

SOCIAL SECURITY News Release

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE SWORN IN AS COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/astrue-pr.htm

J. Astrue was sworn in today as the Commissioner of Social

Security at the agency's national headquarters in Baltimore,

land. He will serve a six-year term that expires on January 19,

2013.

Commissioner Astrue expressed his gratitude at being chosen to serve

as Commissioner. " I have seen first-hand the important work this

Agency does and the essential protection it provides to the most

vulnerable in our society, " Astrue said. " I feel blessed to have

been asked to serve in a position so vital to our success as a

nation. "

Commissioner Astrue has a distinguished history of public service.

He is a former employee of the Social Security Administration,

having served as Counselor to the Commissioner during the Reagan

administration. He also has served as General Counsel at the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services and as the Acting Deputy

Assistant Secretary for Legislation. More recently, he served as a

senior executive of several biotechnology companies.

Commissioner Astrue will be responsible for administering the Social

Security retirement, disability and survivors insurance programs

that pay approximately $580 billion annually in benefits to more

than 49 million beneficiaries, as well as the Supplemental Security

Income program that provides cash assistance to more than 7 million

people with limited income and assets. The agency has a national

workforce of about 62,000 employees and 1,500 facilities throughout

the U.S.

" My goal is to be a good steward of the Social Security program for

both current and future beneficiaries, " Astrue stated. " For current

beneficiaries, this means setting high standards for management,

performance and service—and committing to meeting those standards.

For future beneficiaries, this means engaging with the executive

branch, with Members of Congress, and with outside groups and

experts, to provide unbiased data about all the options for

safeguarding the financial stability of the program. "

Born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and a resident of Belmont,

Massachusetts, Commissioner Astrue received his bachelor's degree

from Yale University and his J. D. from Harvard University. He and

his wife have two children.