[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
SOCIAL SECURITY
(Mr. BLUTE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BLUTE. Mr. Speaker, a plan unveiled recently by the Ways and
Means Chairman would cut COLA's and raise taxes, yet again, on Social
Security beneficiaries.
Wringing more money from the Social Security system and stealing from
the pocketbooks of senior citizens is not the way to attack our Federal
deficit, and Members should reject such proposals out of hand.
Instead, we should redouble our efforts to protect the Social
Security system, and make sure that everyone who pays in will benefit
from it when their time comes.
Yesterday's approval by the Ways and Means Committee of a bill to
make Social Security an independent agency is a step in the right
direction. Separating Social Security will protect it from politics and
budget cuts; it will make it more difficult for politicians to put
their hands into funds which belong to seniors who have paid into the
system their entire life.
Let us have an administrator of Social Security who would have the
ability to make tough, independent decisions--reducing fraud and
inefficiency. This would make Social Security more secure in future
years.
I urge all of my colleagues to stand up for our seniors by voting to
make Social Security an independent agency. Let us protect the sanctity
of the Social Security system, and restore the trust of the American
people.
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