Henry Aaron Is New Social Security Advisory Board Chair

On Friday, September 12 Brookings Senior Fellow Henry Aaron was sworn in as chair of the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB). Confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier in the week, Aaron will helm a seven-member bipartisan board that advises the president, Congress, and the commissioner of Social Security “on policies related to Social Security’s old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.” The board was established in unopposed legislation enacted into law in 1994.

Aaron, the Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Chair, is the author of numerous books and articles on a range of issues in economics and policies, including: Closing the Deficit: How Much Can Later Retirement Help? (with Gary Burtless); Using Taxes to Reform Health Insurance: Pitfalls and Promises; and “Social Security Reconsidered” (National Tax Journal).

He also recently testified to Congress on “Constitutional Solutions to Our Escalating National Debt: Examining Balanced Budget Amendments.”

Learn more about Aaron’s research publications and background from his website bio.