[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H698-H699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           BALANCE THE BUDGET AND REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT

  (Mr. HINCHEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I believe 
Congress needs to work toward balancing the budget and reducing the 
Federal deficit.
  I believe we must legislate in a more fiscally responsible way that 
will ensure our Nation will remain financially strong for our children 
and grandchildren.
  Over the next several weeks, we will debate many measures to achieve 
a balanced budget.
   [[Page H699]] One measure, however, which I will not condone and 
will not even consider is any effort by this leadership to cut Social 
Security.
  Social Security is a covenant the U.S. Government has made with its 
citizens, a promise to support working Americans when they are retired 
and living on fixed incomes.
  The working families of the Nation, and of New York, want straight 
talk, and they deserve to know whether or not Social Security is on the 
table.
  In the only opportunity we had to exempt Social Security in the 104th 
Congress, every Republican but one voted against an amendment to exempt 
Social Security during markup of the balanced budget amendment in the 
Judiciary Committee.
  Simply put, we cannot afford to balance the budget on the backs of 
working Americans who are living on fixed incomes.
  These are difficult economic times for the people of New York's 
southern tier and the Nation. Senior citizens should know for certain 
that their benefits are not in danger.


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