[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 78 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 78

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that Social Security should be 
                       maintained and protected.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 1995

  Mr. Rangel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that Social Security should be 
                       maintained and protected.
Whereas on August 14, 1935, the 74th Congress enacted the first Social Security 
        Act;
Whereas President Franklin Roosevelt stated, ``In pursuing this policy we are 
        walking toward the ultimate objective of making it possible for 
        Americans to live as Americans should.'';
Whereas Social Security is one of our Nation's most popular and effective 
        programs with a near 60-year track record;
Whereas Social Security blends together elements of economic wisdom and of 
        social justice;
Whereas Social Security is a self-financed program supported by deductions from 
        workers' earnings and matched by employers;
Whereas over 141 million persons pay into the Social Security system;
Whereas over 42 million persons receive Social Security benefits, including 3 
        million children;
Whereas persons earn Social Security benefits because they and their employers 
        pay payroll taxes;
Whereas Social Security is the Nation's most successful anti-poverty program, 
        saving 15 million persons from poverty;
Whereas Social Security is the only pension program for 5 out of 10 persons;
Whereas more than 60 percent of older beneficiaries rely on Social Security for 
        at least half their income;
Whereas 1 out of 4 older beneficiaries rely on Social Security for at least 90 
        percent of their income;
Whereas in 1994 the Social Security system has over $436 billion in reserves and 
        that amount will increase in fiscal year 1995 by approximately $65 
        billion;
Whereas the American public has rejected cutting Social Security to reduce the 
        deficit;
Whereas reforms of Social Security benefits should be made only to strengthen 
        the long-term integrity and solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund;
Whereas Social Security provides both young and older persons with economic 
        protection in the event of a disability, retirement, or the loss of a 
        parent or spouse; and
Whereas Social Security is the centerpiece of the sacred contract between 
        citizens of the United States and their government, the cornerstone of 
        the Nation's commitment to the financial well being of all its citizens 
        as they age or become disabled and the primary insurance for Americans 
        against an uncertain economic future: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that Social Security should be 
maintained and that any changes to the program should be made only to 
preserve benefits and strengthen the long-term solvency and integrity 
of the program that has provided economic security for tens of millions 
of Americans of all ages.
                                 <all>