[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

  (Mr. OTTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the Social 
Security and Medicare Lockbox Act of 2001. This measure guarantees that 
every penny paid into the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will 
be secure for the millions of seniors, including my 85-year-old mother 
in Nampa, Idaho, who rely on them today. It is also an important first 
step in shoring up the funds for young workers who will rely on them in 
the years to come.
  But, Mr. Speaker, there is much more to do. And I look forward to 
working with the new administration and reforming Social Security to 
ensure that we keep our promise to those current beneficiaries and to 
those who are soon to retire, and just as importantly, to guarantee to 
those younger workers that they will get them when they reach their 
retirement age.
  Mr. Speaker, we should also work to repeal the tax on senior citizens 
that was placed there by the last administration. H.R. 2 is a much-
needed sign that the Federal government is keeping its commitment to 
senior citizens by creating a Social Security and Medicare Trust 
Lockbox to buttress these dollars against spending raids.
  Our action today sends a strong message that saving Social Security 
and Medicare is a top priority of this Congress. The senior citizens 
that have contributed so much of their lives to our country deserve the 
comfort and the peace of mind that their country is there and will be 
there for them because they were there for us.
  It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we will move quickly to accept this 
legislation.

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