[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 140 (Friday, October 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12724-S12726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    U.S. JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, each week, each of us meets with 
dozens, even hundreds, of constituents from our home States. For some 
States, thousands of constituents will travel to Washington to advocate 
positions on issues of concern. Being a Senator representing a sparsely 
populated States means meeting with everyone of those constituents who 
visits the Capitol. It is always good to see the folks from home.
  Two weeks ago was old home week for me. It was a special time for me 
to reminisce about my service in the Jaycees. The Jaycees--now called 
the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce--State presidents held a 
meeting in the Nations' Capitol to talk about their organization's 
priorities. Debra Jennings, State president of the Wyoming Junior 
Chamber of Commerce, and Larry Wostenberg, the sole candidate for next 
years's State president of the Wyoming Junior Chamber of Commerce, were 
in town and I was fortunate to meet with them.
  I'm a former Wyoming State Jaycee president. I served in 1973-74. 
That year and the activities that led to that year played a big role in 
forming my leadership skills. I took leadership classes, then I taught 
leadership classes.
  As president, I emphasized that the Jaycees was not a service 
organization. The Jaycees were and are a leadership organization. The 
purpose has been and is to teach young people leadership skills. 
Members participate in the complete service projects to learn 
leadership skills.
  My first project was a Christmas shopping tour. We raised money in 
order to take kids recommended by welfare shopping to buy presents for 
the other members of their families. We picked them up at their home. 
We took them shopping, took them to a restaurant where they wrapped the 
packages and had a little celebration, and then delivered them home. We 
also spent the year gathering toys, repairing them, and purchasing 
additional toys that were given to the kids we took on the shopping 
tour. Through activities such as the shopping tour, I developed 
leadership skills that helped me move up in the ranks within the 
Wyoming Jaycees--first as a committee chairman, then the local 
president, and State chaplain.
  At one point in my experience, we noticed that many young businessmen 
were devoting so much time to the Jaycees that it was breaking up their 
families. I was part of a project for having one night a week devoted 
to families and family discussion. The name of that program, which 
became a national program, was ``Family Life.'' I spent a year 
traveling to chapters and State meetings extolling the virtues of 
strong families. It is my understanding that 25 years later the program 
is still intact and still being conducted.
  Another favorite program of that time was one called ``Do 
Something.'' It could just as easily have been labeled ``Do Anything.'' 
Chapters across the Nation were encouraged to survey their community, 
figure out what needed to be done and do it. They were encouraged not 
to do formal surveys. They were encouraged to have each Jaycee ask his 
neighbors and the people in his community what they thought the 
community needed, then to do it. The emphasis was on talking to each 
other, then taking action, and it worked. Never underestimate the 
ability of young people to achieve. Remember they haven't had enough 
experience to know yet what can't be done. As a result they find that 
anything can be done and they do it. Most of them haven't been taught 
yet that only government can get things done. So, they learn first hand 
that only individuals working together get things done.
  Jaycees gave me my start in politics in a strange way. I was a 
businessman

[[Page S12725]]

operating a retail shoe store who was too busy to worry about politics. 
I had never anticipated going into politics. At the State Jaycee 
convention as I was finishing my year as State president, Senator Alan 
Simpson was our guest speaker. At that time he was a State 
Representative and majority floor leader. I gave my speech on Jaycee 
leadership training. He gave his customarily humorous speech. After the 
dinner he took me by the elbow, led me off to the side and said, ``On 
this leadership thing, it's time you put your money where your mouth 
is. You need to get into politics. You ought to run for mayor of 
Gillette.'' Gillette, the community where I was from, was just 
beginning a boom. I was only 29. Not a good age to run for office in 
Wyoming. In addition, I had only lived in Gillette for 5 years. Nowhere 
near being a Gillette native. I wanted to see more city planning. Not 
an exciting or good issue to run on in the West. But the young people 
moving to Gillette in droves saw the need for an organizing force with 
new ideas, and I was elected. You could call that a ``Do Something'' 
project. I took a quick informal survey of what needed to be done 
followed by enlisting the help of everyone.

  The United States Jaycees puts out an officer and directors guide. 
It's a manual for chapter management and leadership training. I've had 
a copy of that Officer and Directors Guide and a copy of the ``Do 
Something'' manual on my desk since 1975. I've found that you can run a 
city with them, that you can solve State problems with them, and that 
you can organize a United States Senate office and do legislation based 
on them.
  Last week the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce--Jaycees--were in town 
learning leadership. They were learning about projects that will teach 
leadership and they were learning about laws that will affect their 
future and the future of this country. They have programs for getting 
young people into business. They have a national business network to 
help them when they are in business. They have a gun safety education 
program available to all youth. They have a program for teaching 
investing. And they get into some social issues, called ``Touch one 
child and you touch the world'' that helps provide care for infants 
affected by HIV/AIDS. They have a program called, ``Wake up. Live Big. 
Be Smoke Free.'' It's the Jaycees against youth smoking.
  The Jaycees are about people to people dialogue and communication. 
Neighbor to neighbor. Delivering a message by those who are trusted. 
Yes, these young people will make a difference. They have a message for 
us on Social Security. They've been holding townhall meetings across 
the country and have been surveying the Nation. They've been searching 
for solutions to our Social Security dilemma. Mr. President, I ask to 
have printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks, a 
resolution that started them on this quest on March 16, 1996. It was 
revised and reauthorized September 23 of this year.
  I also have an opinion editorial by the National Committee to 
Preserve Social Security and Medicare written by Mike Marshall who is 
the past president of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, 
entitled, ``Jaycees want Social Security Saved.'' I also ask that that 
document be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  My fellow Senators, we've heard from the people on retirement. We've 
heard from the people almost ready to retire. We've heard from the baby 
boomers. Now we are hearing from the people at the beginning end of the 
spectrum of working for Social Security. These people will be paying 
into the system for 30 to 45 years and they want to be sure they get 
something back too.
  Perhaps the serious condition of the Social Security system as an 
investment program can best be understood through an example. Let's 
suppose that only 2 percent of the present 15 percent is contributed 
from every paycheck to Social Security. If invested in the private 
markets, this 2 percent would produce the same result at retirement as 
the entire 15 percent gives them now. That's not much of a future for 
the current Social Security program. It would cause a revolution as 
these young people move into decisionmaking situations. If we listen to 
them now, if we work with them now, if we make changes in the system 
now, Social Security as we know it can be saved and extended for the 
benefit of our Nation's young people for years to come. If we wait very 
long, we will see pain. Please resolve with me now to join the United 
States Junior Chamber of Commerce in their quest to ensure the future 
economic solvency of the Social Security system for present generations 
and those to come.
  I thank my colleagues.
  The documents follow:

  Call for Legislation To Ensure the Future Economic Solvency of the 
                         Social Security System

             (Revised and Reauthorized September 23, 1999)

       Whereas, the membership of The United States Junior Chamber 
     of Commerce as well as most Americans are concerned about the 
     economic future of Social Security System.
       Whereas, payroll deductions will have to be dramatically 
     increased or benefits significantly decreased unless Social 
     Security is reformed; and
       Whereas, we need to meet our Social Security promises to 
     existing and future retirees; and
       Whereas, the number of retirees will almost double by the 
     year 2030; or
       Whereas, The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce has 
     conducted surveys at seventy-five Social Security Town Hall 
     Meetings in forty different states; and
       Whereas, The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce has 
     testified before congress to address these concerns; and
       Whereas, as a result of The United States Junior Chamber of 
     Commerce's Social Security Town Hall Report, an overwhelming 
     majority approved the establishment of individual retirement 
     accounts; and
       Whereas, The U.S. Congress has introduced legislation for 
     the establishment and maintenance of individual retirement 
     accounts; and
       Whereas, The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce has 
     invested considerable time and resources in the solvency of 
     the Social Security System; and
       Whereas, The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce sees 
     the need to get the average young American involved in the 
     interest of their government; and
       Whereas, The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce 
     should actively promote getting out the vote to secure these 
     aims: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce 
     Executive Board of Directors:
       recognizes that Social Security is in need of immediate 
     revision;
       recognizes that the future of Social Security is a vital 
     concern for young people and future generations in the United 
     States;
       recognizes the need for capitalization of the social 
     security system;
       recognizes the need for personal retirement accounts;
       recognizes that a percentage of budget surpluses should go 
     towards the solvency of Social Security;
       recognizes a need for a national ``Get Out the Vote'' 
     campaign;
       gives authority to the USJCC staff to pursue a course to 
     reform Social Security in local Junior Chamber communities 
     and at the national level and organize a ``Get Out the Vote'' 
     campaign.
                                  ____


                   Jaycees Want Social Security Saved

                           (By Mike Marshall)

       Within the last year, Republicans and Democrats have 
     expressed the necessity to take legislative action to 
     strengthen Social Security. President Clinton, during his 
     1998 State of the Union address, announced plans for a series 
     of public forums to be held across the country. He plans to 
     hold a conference on Social Security in Washington, D.C., 
     this December and then ask Congress to pass reforms in 1999. 
     Senator Bob Kerrey, Nebraska Democrat, is urging President 
     Clinton and congressional Republicans to begin ``eating our 
     national spinach'' and reform government entitlements. 
     Politicians are listening to their constituents and are 
     coming to the conclusion that Americans want Social Security 
     to be saved.
       Members of The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce 
     (Jaycees) completed a series of Social Security town hall 
     meetings across America in 1997. They made some remarkable 
     findings. Americans attending these town hall meetings 
     indicated they want the Social Security system in this 
     country reformed. With more than 1,400 town hall participants 
     surveyed, 79 percent believe that the Social Security program 
     will need radical or major changes to survive.
       The Jaycee surveys also indicate that 76 percent of the 
     town hall participants believe that they should be allowed to 
     place their Social Security contributions into a personal 
     retirement account. This coincides with a survey recently 
     released by the Democratic Leadership Council which indicated 
     that 75 percent of registered voters--regardless of political 
     party--said they strongly or somewhat support letting workers 
     take a third of the Social Security payroll taxes they now 
     pay and invest them into private retirement accounts.
       The Junior Chamber of Commerce believes any changes to 
     Social Security should be

[[Page S12726]]

     judged on whether the current hallmarks are maintained and 
     remain dependable, universal, and available to the disabled 
     as well as all elderly. In addition, we recognize the need 
     for capitalization of the Social Security system. Americans 
     need to have ownership in the system and politicians must 
     have reduced access to the money they are taxing for our 
     retirement savings. Some type of Personal Savings Retirement 
     Accounts combined with the current system appear to be the 
     best solution.
       Some organizations would have you believe that Social 
     Security can be saved with just a few adjustments. For 60 
     years, with little notice or fanfare, the government has been 
     making adjustments to the system. If it was as simple as a 
     slight adjustment, we would not have elected officials 
     risking their political lives by addressing the need for 
     dramatic, system-saving changes.
       Now is the time honest debate and real reform. We are 
     asking Congress and the President to leave a legacy of 
     leadership behind them for this country. They must act to 
     save the Social Security system for the elderly, the 
     disabled, and current and future retirees. All Americans must 
     take an active role on this issue, listen to all aides of the 
     debate, and then call their elected officials and urge them 
     to take action.
       The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce is a 
     volunteer, non-partisan, community service organization 
     comprised of more than 100,000 men and women ages 21 to 39. 
     1-800-JAYCEES.

                          ____________________