[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S5165]]
                 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUSTEES

  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I have, as well as the Senator from 
Wyoming, come to the floor to comment on the Social Security trustees' 
report, which is one more piece of evidence that this Congress needs to 
act sooner rather than later to change our entitlement programs, 
specifically our retirement programs and our health care programs. The 
longer we wait, the more likely it is that we will face very, very 
difficult choices and it will unfairly punish people for our delay. 
While it is not a crisis in 1995, that should not be justification for 
our not taking action as, unfortunately, is often the case.
  One additional point, Mr. President. I believe the trustees' report 
itself makes a very strong case for changing the law so that we have a 
different kind of trustee relationship. Four of the six trustees are 
members of the executive branch, the administration. And while I trust 
each one of them, I do not believe they have the kind of independence 
that the American people need in order to have a recommendation upon 
which we can act.
  They say in their recommendation there is no real urgency; let us 
wait until the clock ticks a little further.
  I believe an independent board is needed, Mr. President. Otherwise, 
the American people are not going to acquire the sense of urgency to 
act. As a consequence, this Congress may be encouraged to delay longer 
than is wise.
  I thank the distinguished Senator from Wyoming for yielding time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming has 8 minutes 
remaining.


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