[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E683-E684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, President Clinton 
held his first meeting to outline his thoughts on reforming the Social 
Security system. The problem is, we still don't have any answers.

[[Page E684]]

  Although President Clinton won't admit it, Social Security is not 
financially sound. Statistics show that within the next 15 years, the 
system will begin to pay out more than it takes in. This means that 
unless we begin to make changes now, the system could be bankrupt in 30 
years.
  As a father and grandfather, I am not only concerned about the money 
I have payed into Social Security over the course of my lifetime, but 
now my children and grandchildren are putting their hard-earned dollars 
into the program as well. The worst part is, none of us have any 
confidence that this money will still be there when we need it.
  Mr. Speaker, before our break you asked us to find out how our 
constituents would like to see the Social Security system reformed. I 
agree that the only way to create a system that is consistent with what 
Americans want is to talk to the very people who pay into and benefit 
from the program.
  It is time for us to use the suggestions we heard from our 
constituents while we were back home and show the President and Social 
Security can and must be reformed now.

                          ____________________