[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against 
another case of reverse Robin Hood. But this time it is stealing from 
our seniors to give out tax breaks in an election year. When we talk 
about Social Security, we are talking about one of the most important 
programs in the history of the United States. This program ensures that 
our seniors and our disabled will be taken care of. The Social Security 
program is the result of hard work by working families across this 
Nation. By dipping into the Social Security cookie jar, we jeopardize 
the security of seniors who count on these monthly checks during their 
retirement.
  Let me close with a tribute today to the late Claude Pepper, one of 
the most important advocates for the elderly and for Social Security 
expansion in the United States Congress. Claude Pepper cared about 
seniors across this Nation and he fought to protect them so that they 
could enjoy their elderly years in life without being afraid of where 
their next check was coming from. As a Member of Congress from the 
State of Florida, Claude Pepper's legacy for fighting for the rights of 
seniors and the poor speaks for itself. He would not stand for 
election-year gimmicks that punished the working families who have 
contributed to the Social Security trust fund. In the name of decency 
and in the name of Claude Pepper, the leadership of this House should 
vote to save Social Security first. This is a mean-spirited attack on 
the needy. We have a responsibility to today's seniors and to 
tomorrow's seniors to protect this valuable program.

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