[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FREE SOCIAL SECURITY LOCKBOX LEGISLATION

  (Mr. HERGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, today is day number 63 of the latest hostage 
crisis. It is a hostage crisis that is not getting much attention in 
the mainstream media, but it has grave implications for current and 
future retirees nonetheless.
  Since April 21 of this year, Democrats in the other body have blocked 
a Herger lockbox proposal, refusing to allow it to even come to a vote.
  What is being held hostage is legislation to create a Social Security 
lockbox; in other words, legislation to create a safe deposit box that 
would put an end to the time-honored practice in Washington of raiding 
the Social Security Trust Fund whenever politicians want to expand 
government.
  Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed Social 
Security lockbox legislation. We want to protect the Social Security 
Trust Fund from further raids. The other side is adamantly against it. 
Once we get into the habit of raiding a cookie jar, it is awfully tough 
to quit. It is time to end the hostage crisis and free the Social 
Security lockbox and protect seniors from more raids on the Social 
Security Trust Fund.

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