[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 102 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H7221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY AND IMPROVING EDUCATION IN AMERICA

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, over the last month, I held 
many town hall meetings, and forums with constituents across the 7th 
Congressional District of Michigan.
  Two priority issues that came up in most every meeting was Education 
and Social Security. Making sure we save Social Security, was not only 
a concern of the seniors but a concern of younger workers.
  Parents were concerned about the K through 12 education for their 
kids; somehow doing a better job to improve education to make sure 
every child has the opportunity to learn to their maximum potential.
  So I challenge myself and I challenge my colleagues to give education 
a top priority, to get the money out of Washington and into the class 
room so educators and parents can decide how best to use it.
  In terms of Social Security, we must have provisions that make sure 
that that generation that worked so hard, that did so much, that 
sacrificed, that saved string, that bundled tinfoil for the war effort 
are not deprived of the Social Security that they were promised. Let us 
make that effort.
  In the last 7\1/2\ years, this administration has failed to give us 
the leadership to solve those problems. Let us do better in the future.

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