Boxer Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Protect Social Security

Press Release

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) joined with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other colleagues today to introduce the Social Security Protection Act, legislation that would help protect Social Security and the millions of Americans nationwide who depend on it.

"Social Security is one of the most successful federal programs in our nation's history and we must protect it," Senator Boxer said.

"For 75 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every nickel owed to every eligible American. That's an extraordinary record, all done at a very modest administrative cost," Senator Sanders said.

The Social Security Protection Act would help safeguard Social Security by requiring a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate for any effort to reduce benefits, raise the retirement age or privatize the program.

Senators Boxer and Sanders were joined at a Capitol Hill press conference by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who have also co-sponsored the bill, as well as Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), who is introducing a companion bill in the House.

The lawmakers sought to push back against opponents of Social Security who have falsely blamed the retirement program for driving up deficits.

"Let us also be very clear," Sanders said. "Social Security has never contributed one dime to the federal budget deficit or the national debt. In fact, Social Security currently has a $2.6 trillion surplus that is projected to grow to $4.2 trillion in 2023. It is absurd, therefore, to be discussing Social Security within the context of deficit reduction."

For 75 years, through good times and bad, Social Security has kept millions of senior citizens, persons with disabilities and children out of poverty. Before President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law in 1935, about half of all senior citizens lived in poverty. Today, less than 10 percent of seniors live in poverty.

Almost two out of three seniors rely on Social Security for half or more of their income. Social Security is currently keeping more than 1.6 million Californians out of poverty, including 1.1 million seniors.

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