Issue Position: Social Security

Issue Position

Social Security is vital to the stability of America's seniors and the millions of hard-working families that count on this program to help them through their retirement years. I believe Congress has a responsibility to protect and preserve Social Security for today's retirees and workers. I am committed to keeping this program strong and will oppose any changes that jeopardize the benefits our seniors receive today.

Many people commonly believe that the money they pay into Social Security throughout their working years is set aside, and then paid back to them upon retirement. This isn't the case. In reality, the program is a pay-as-you-go system with today's workers paying to support today's retirees. But each year, there are more retirees taking money out, and not enough additional workers to support them.

The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees have stated that without action to protect the program, it will begin to permanently run in deficit in 2016, with the trust fund being exhausted in 2037. While Social Security is sound for today's seniors and for those nearing retirement, it must be fixed for our children and grandchildren. To ensure that the program remains solvent for generations to come, we must improve the current system.

To date, Congress has not begun considering a specific proposal to reform Social Security in the 111th Congress, although President Obama has expressed an interest in reforming the system. Above all, I am committed to keeping this program strong and will oppose any changes that jeopardize the benefits our seniors receive today.

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