Saving Social Security

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the pending issue of Social Security.

Madam Speaker, for you and the people in the audience, it might come as a shock that Social Security has not been adjusted in more than 54 years.

What do I mean by that? Some would argue that Social Security was adjusted in 1982 under Tip O'Neill, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Dole. Indeed, it was addressed, but Ronald Reagan wanted to privatize Social Security. Bob Dole, a Senate Republican, said no, that this is too important a program. They agreed that what they would do was to keep the program intact, under the assistance of Tip O'Neill, but they raised the age. That sounds like a reasonable compromise until you realize that for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits. In essence, back in 1982, there was a 14 percent cut in benefits.

Today, we have a comprehensive proposal with regard to Social Security to help everybody across the board, including a 2 percent overall increase in Social Security--again, something that hasn't been done since Richard Nixon was President of the United States.

We also want to make sure that no one receives a below-poverty-level check from Social Security. Currently, more than 5 million of our fellow Americans--most, Madam Speaker, you will find interesting, are women--primarily because they were the caregivers and providers at home and, when they were in the workforce, were making less than their male counterparts. No matter how you look at it, it is unfair and unjust.

Social Security is the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly, and it is also the number one antipoverty program for children.

Madam Speaker, more veterans rely on Social Security disability than they do the VA. Yet, Congress has not acted.

This is not anything that can be done through executive order or anything that is before the Supreme Court. What all Americans should be demanding is that their Congress not only pay attention but act.

Democrats have a proposal that does just that. It expands coverage across the board. It makes sure that no one can retire into poverty, like more than 5 million current Americans do. It also makes sure that we provide a cost-of-living increase that will benefit everybody.

Where do they spend that money, Madam Speaker? They spend it right back in the congressional districts where they live. They put it right back into buying groceries and going to the pharmacies; paying to heat and cool their homes; paying their rent, bills, mortgages; and putting gasoline into their automobiles. That all helps the American economy.

During this time of inflation, it is not understandable why a Republican-controlled House and Senate will not take up Social Security as the main issue facing the American people, including the best step forward during these times of inflation. Where do people spend that check: right back in the communities that they live in. That is the most important thing.

Madam Speaker, that is why I come to the floor today: to make sure that we are acting on Social Security and to make sure that all Americans understand how vital and important this is. We can no longer afford to kick this can down the road. Kicking the can down the road doesn't help anyone out in your district, in my district, and in the 435 districts across this Nation. Quite the contrary, it will help everyone out.

This is not about being a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent. This is about Americans, again, demonstrating the brilliance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and what they had in mind to get us out of the Great Depression.

We are still hanging on from the recession of 2008 and 2009. If people say it can't happen again, they are wrong. It can.

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