Social Security Fairness Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. We wrapped up our election season last Tuesday. I participated in debates. Other people participated in debates.

We are all ready to go after that inflation, that inflation driving up food costs, driving up housing costs, driving up the cost of gasoline. We are ready to get back here and be a little responsible.

Mr. Speaker, what is the first bill up, the first bill on the first day? It is a bill that is going to cost just short of $200 billion, not cut $200 billion, as we try to strengthen the dollar. It is going to cost $200 billion.

It is illuminating that the most cosponsored bill is a bill that will add another $200 billion to the country's debt, but that is the situation that we are in.

Mr. Speaker, let's forget about the flowery language here. Now is the first opportunity to say no to spending. I was anticipating this biennium. We fight over bills worth $500 million or $1 billion. Now, we have a bill before us for $190 billion, and everyone says it is time to, in a bipartisan way, spend more. The average American is already $100,000 in debt.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please remember the promises about excessive spending that we were all saying just 2 weeks ago and please vote against this bill.

I don't know what is going to happen to me if the first thing the Republicans do after coming back after this election season is pass a bill that is going to cost $200 billion. Remember, the current system is built to provide a benefit for the low earner. These folks already have a pension and knew what the situation was going to be. Please don't spend $200 billion.

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