Hands Off Our Social Security

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury) for yielding to me. Her work and effort are exemplary.

Here is the data, the facts, Mr. Speaker: Over 70 million of our fellow Americans rely on Social Security, and Social Security, throughout its history, has never missed a payment.

Today, it is even more crucial as 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and for more than 40 percent of all Social Security recipients, this is the only benefit that they have.

Representative Stansbury is part of legislation that seeks to expand benefits, not just protect Social Security. Congress hasn't acted on Social Security and its expansion since 1971. Richard Nixon was President of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, because of the initiative, energy, and enthusiasm of Members of Congress like Representative Stansbury, people in New Mexico and all across the country--Mr. Speaker, it might surprise even you, as well, to know how many people in your district are equally served. More than $300,000 comes in monthly to recipients in your district in the great State of Virginia, but that hasn't changed in over 54 years.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to get behind Representative Stansbury's legislation that will be incorporated into the Committee on Ways and Means' configuration on Social Security that will benefit the people.

As Representative Stansbury has indicated, this is America's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and number one antipoverty program for children, and more veterans rely on Social Security disability than they do the VA.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Stansbury for her efforts and initiatives.

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