[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E416-E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT ENHANCEMENTS FOR WOMEN ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, this month is Women's History Month. In 
considering the integral role women have played in making America the 
great nation it is today and their daily contributions to the growth of 
our economy and the stability of American families, we are reminded yet 
again how important it is to ensure Social Security will continue to 
provide the economic security women need and deserve after a lifetime 
of sacrifice and hard work.
  In looking at Social Security's history, it is no wonder it is so 
important to women. The first woman to serve as a Presidential Cabinet 
Member-Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins--was Chairwoman of the 
committee that designed Social Security, and the first beneficiary to 
receive a monthly benefit was also a woman--Ida May Fuller.
  Social Security's lifetime inflation-adjusted benefits, spouse and 
survivor benefits, and progressive benefit formula provide critical 
protections for women, because they live longer, earn less, take time 
away from the workforce to care for kids, and have less pension and 
asset income than men. Without Social Security, more than half of 
elderly women would live in poverty.
  Although Social Security has successfully provided an effective 
safety net for two-thirds of a century, Social Security is facing 
serious financial challenges. Beginning in 2016, payroll taxes won't be 
enough to cover promised benefit payments and Social Security will call 
on the Treasury to make good on its obligations to the trust funds. 
Soon thereafter, payroll taxes taken out of the wages of our hard-
working kids and grandkids will be the only source of revenue--and they 
will cover only 73% of benefits, and even less than that in future 
years. If we fall to enact a plan to save Social Security, the 
consequences would be devastating for millions of Americans, especially 
women.
  For these reasons, restoring Social Security's solvency for the 21st 
century and beyond is a national priority for the public, Congress, and 
the President. We need to stop poisoning the well of bipartisanship, 
set aside political demagoguery, and fulfill our duty as Members of 
Congress by working together toward this goal. We can start building a 
foundation of common ground by taking a modest step to enhance Social 
Security benefits for women, without jeopardizing the financial 
position of the trust funds.
  I've worked with the Social Security Administration to identify 
potential enhancements

[[Page E417]]

that we could make to help women, while ensuring the costs will not 
affect Social Security's ability to make benefit benefits in the long-
term. I have found three provisions that, while modest in terms of 
overall impact, represent real help for just over 120,000 women when 
implemented. Today these provisions are being introduced as the Social 
Security Benefit Enhancements for Women Act of 2002.
  These provisions increase benefits for certain widows, allow more 
disabled widows to qualify for disabled widow benefits, and enable 
certain divorced spouses to receive benefits sooner. These enhancements 
are particularly necessary, because elderly and disabled widows and 
divorced spouses are more likely to live in poverty.
  Back in December, virtually all the Members of the House of 
Representatives voted to save Social Security soon, without benefit 
cuts or tax increases. I sincerely hope that by coming together to 
enhance benefits for women, we will build further consensus that will 
help us make the progress that is so desperately toward our larger 
commitment of saving Social Security for our kids and grandkids. We 
must not allow shortsightedness and election-year politics come between 
us and this goal; otherwise, our kids and grandkids will pay the price.

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