[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KEEPING THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROMISE INITIATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of House Concurrent 
Resolution 282, Keeping the Social Security Promise Initiative.
  I support this resolution because I believe that Congress needs to 
pass a Social Security reform plan that protects the current program. 
That means I will support reform plans that protect Social Security's 
guaranteed lifetime benefits, maintain its yearly COLAs, strengthen its 
important anti-poverty role and improve its protections for low-income 
earners, minorities and women.
  This resolution is very timely. Yesterday, the President's self-
appointed Commission to Strengthen Social Security released its final 
report on Social Security reform. It recommended three plans all of 
which reduce Social Security benefits in order to divert money to 
create individual accounts.
  Today's Resolution puts this Congress on record as rejecting the 
President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security recommendations--
which include benefit reductions--and hopefully provides the Congress 
with starting point for reform.
  If President Bush and the House Majority are serious about reforming 
Social Security, they should sit down and engage in an honest debate 
with representative of all parties to arrive at an outcome that makes 
the current Social Security system solvent for generations to come 
while not cutting Social Security benefits.
  As Congress acts on Social Security reform, I urge Republicans to 
keep their ``Social Security Promise'' by protecting Americans' Social 
Security benefits for current and future retirees.

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