[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 28 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
 REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP REFUSES TO SCHEDULE DEBATE ON FUTURE OF SOCIAL 
                                SECURITY

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment 
that the Republican leadership refuses to schedule a debate on the 
future of Social Security. They appear unwilling even to schedule or to 
bring up the plan introduced by their own majority leader.
  Perhaps it is because that plan calls for benefit cuts, substantial 
benefit cuts for many Americans, including disabled Americans. Perhaps 
it is because creating private accounts will cost more than $1 trillion 
in transition costs; and perhaps it is because the plan exposes 
beneficiaries to unnecessary risks for unlikely rewards.
  I welcome the opportunity to debate the future of Social Security, 
but the Republican leadership so far refuses. Perhaps it is because, if 
they do, their plan will be rejected by the American people.

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