[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST

  (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, there is no better example of the loss of 
trust in government than our Social Security program. Social Security 
is one of the great accomplishments of our government in this century 
and one of the most successful programs in our history.
  When Social Security was passed more than 60 years ago, a majority of 
the elderly lived in poverty, lived in fear of destitution in old age, 
and it was a fear that was crippling all of society. Today, Social 
Security benefits not just those who depend on Social Security 
primarily to put food on their table, but it benefits all of society.
  Yet, in my district in New Jersey, and I believe in most of my 
colleagues' districts, we would be hard put to find anyone who thinks 
they will get a dime from Social Security for all of the taxes they 
have paid. That skepticism shows the serious problem of trust we face.
  We must restore faith in this fundamental Federal program. That is 
why we must save Social Security first before we turn to tax cuts.

                          ____________________