It is Time for Congress to Enhance Social Security

Floor Speech

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for our Nation's children, which is Social Security.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to talk about why we need to vote in this Chamber and why we need to take action. Astoundingly, Congress hasn't taken action in over 53 years, which may surprise the members in the gallery and you as well, Mr. Speaker.

Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time Congress enhanced Social Security. Congress is the only body that can do this. The President can't do it through executive order, and it is nothing that the Supreme Court is going to take up. Only Members of this institution can help out people.

There are more than 70 million Social Security recipients in the country today, Mr. Speaker. More than 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and we haven't enhanced a benefit for them in over 53 years.

Now, the Republican Study Committee has come up with a plan. They say what we need to do is cut $1.5 trillion out of Social Security over the next 10 years, and they say they want to raise the age.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits. Raising the age to 70 is a 21 percent across-the-board cut to people that haven't had a benefit enhancement since 1971.

I don't know how that makes any sense, given the needs of our senior citizens and also, quite frankly, given the needs of our children. Also, more veterans rely on Social Security disability than they do on the VA.

That is why we have proposed Social Security 2100, which will enhance Social Security across the board for everyone. Let no one work all their lives and retire into poverty.

Currently, more than 5.5 million people who have paid into Social Security and worked all their lives get below-poverty-level checks from the United States Government. That is unfair. That is unjust. That is wrong, and Congress needs to take action.

If you just want to say how much you like Social Security, but you don't have a plan and you don't want to vote, then you are not doing anything for Social Security and you are content with its cuts.

If you want a study commission as some have said, what is it that you are going to study? What is it that you don't know about the last 51 years? People at home at their kitchen tables pretty clearly know that Congress needs to act and enhance Social Security and increase the benefits that haven't been given to them in more than 53 years. It is outrageous.

More Americans need to know about it, but Congress needs to act. The Ways and Means Committee has cognizance over Social Security. We should be taking this up.

If you have got a better idea than our plan to enhance Social Security, by all means bring it out. By all means, let's have a debate on it. For God's sake, don't we owe the American people a vote? Aren't they entitled to know where their Members of Congress stand and what their plan is?

Mr. Speaker, it might amaze you to know that over 193,000 recipients of Social Security are in your district, and that brings in $324 million monthly to your constituents.

Where do they spend that money? They spend it right back in the district at the local pharmacy, at the local grocery store, paying for their rent, their mortgages, putting gas in their automobile. This is one of the best economic development programs that every Member of Congress benefits from and their constituents as well.

It is long overdue for the United States Congress to act. All we are asking for is to put out your plan and have a vote.

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