Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, this is an unusual day. In many cases, it is providential, as we look on the eve of the time that we take to honor our fallen war dead.

Some people confuse it with the beginning of summer or the opening of our swimming pools. It has nothing to do with that.

But the fact that we can talk today about the SECURE Act--and when you talk about ``secure,'' what does ``secure'' mean? It means giving you certainty, making you assured, and making something reliable, something dependable, something that is fixed, something that is established, and something that is solid and sound.

What we are doing today is acting in the best interests of the American people. We are doing it in the people's House at a time when the rest of the Nation looks at us and asks, ``Isn't there anything they can do together to help the American people?''

When I go home, I say, yes, there is. I have a great friend from Wisconsin, Ron Kind, and we feel the same way. I talked with Mr. Brady about it, and we feel the same way. I have talked with Mr. Neal about it, and we feel the same way.

Today's effort is adding security in retirement years for every American, the opportunity to go into those golden years with a little gold in their pockets so that they can get through it, giving them peace of mind in being able to lay their heads on the pillows at night feeling safe and secure, knowing that they have prepared for their retirements.

There are many other pieces to this bill. We have talked about the provisions to the Gold Star program. So if something was wrong, we made it right.

The 529 programs give people the opportunity to actually save and allocate money for the education of their children.

It may not be in a 4-year college. Maybe it is a vocational opportunity. But it is there. It is their money, and they should be able to use it the way they want to use it.

I just said earlier about it being providential, and I mean that sincerely. There will be a few times today that the American people will look at us and say: They really have our best interests at heart. They really go to work every day thinking that they are not representing themselves but representing us, the American people.

When I look at this piece of legislation, I know how hard we worked with the chairman to get it through in the past sessions. We almost got it there but didn't quite get it there.

Madam Speaker, I say to Chairman Neal, we are getting there. We are getting there. And I say to Mr. Kind, we are getting there.

I just think that it is such a fantastic opportunity to show the American people who we really are and what we really do and where our hearts really lie.

There are so many people who worked on this. Also, the staff. I thank Kara for doing the work that she has done. I always call her my girl Friday. In our office, Lori Prater. They all work so closely together. I wish the American people could see the camaraderie, could see how well we work together, and could understand that our concerns and their concerns are the same.

I am saying today that the SECURE Act gives us that opportunity. The time for the American people and retired people is just beginning, and we have blue skies and strong winds on our backs.

Madam Speaker, I wish everybody the best Memorial Day ever, and let's not forget our fallen heroes.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source