Enhancing Social Security

Floor Speech

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Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague John Larson, who has been at the forefront of advocating for changes to the Social Security system that will ensure its longevity for the next generation and generations to come and will increase the benefits for those who currently receive Social Security.

In contrast, the Republicans are proposing cuts to Social Security, and those cuts will harm millions of Americans.

Make no mistake, cutting Social Security is a direct attack on the Latino population in this country. Social Security benefits are a significant portion of retirement income for Latinos. Forty-two percent of Latino couples and 59 percent of unmarried Latino individuals rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their retirement income.

Yet, my Republican colleagues are hellbent on cutting those Social Security benefits. Their proposed budget would cut Social Security benefits for 253 million people, and Latino communities, sadly, will pay the price.

Without Social Security, 47 percent of Latino retirees would be living in poverty. Mr. Larson frequently says that Social Security is the most successful antipoverty program that this country has ever created.

In contrast to Republicans, who want to cut Social Security or increase the age at which you can begin to draw on it, Democrats are committed to protecting all people from living in poverty. Democrats want to invest in programs like Social Security so that more Americans, including Latinos, can afford to retire.

One of the ingenious parts of Social Security 2100 will increase the cap for those who pay into the Social Security system. I frequently give this example. I think it is important. Many Americans don't know that once you earn above a certain income, you stop paying into the Social Security system. That means that a professional athlete, like, say, a professional baseball player who makes millions of dollars a year in income, in their first at-bat of the season, they hit that cap and pay no more money into Social Security the rest of the year.

I think that we can fix Social Security, increase its longevity, and protect communities like the Latino communities and the women who depend predominantly on Social Security for their retirement income. All we are asking for is a vote on this legislation.

I have no doubt that if we put that bill on the floor, it would pass by a large margin. Give us a vote.

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