US savings rate and Savings Bonds

Recently a group called the New America Foundation sponsored a discussion in Washington on ways to improve the low savings rate of Americans, according to the UPI article, Many ways to increase U.S. personal savings. One of the five solutions suggested was to revitalize U.S. Savings Bonds. Suggestions included:

• adding a line to tax returns that would allow people to invest part of their refund in Savings Bonds
• shortening the minimum holding period, which is currently one year
• re-establish a marketing program for Savings Bonds