[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE LOCK-BOX ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, in this time of unprecedented budget 
surpluses, the first and most important responsibility Congress has is 
to protect Social Security and Medicare, and the senior citizens they 
serve. On February 13th, the House of Representatives took this first 
step when it overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2, the Social Security and 
Medicare Lockbox Act of 2001.
  I was proud to support this bill, as I did last year. H.R. 2 prevents 
any other legislation or amendment from dipping into Social Security or 
Medicare Trust Fund Surpluses. This proposed lockbox would ensure that 
trust fund surpluses can only be spent on their intended uses of 
retirement and health care security.
  Until we enact Social Security and Medicare reform legislation, which 
I hope we will do in this Congress, all trust fund surpluses will be 
used to pay down the national debt. The money cannot be used for any 
other programs or spending projects, period. Before we consider tax 
cuts, we owe our seniors no less than this.

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