[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H3284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             RESPONSE REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I feel somewhat compelled to at least respond 
to the last charges that Republicans do not care about Social Security. 
We do indeed care about Social Security. We have parents. We have 
grandparents. We care desperately. When the record is explored for 
people to review, I hope they will know that nine out of 11 times that 
Social Security was violated, where they actually invaded the trust 
funds, occurred during Democratic Presidencies and Democratically 
controlled Congresses. We will show the record. We will show in detail 
where moneys were taken from the Social Security Trust Fund and used to 
offset other budget issues.
  Let me also remind the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) they never 
talk about the spending bills that they have encouraged on this floor. 
Repeatedly, time and time again, we hear motions to rise, motions to 
adjourn, some 9, 10, 15 a day, because they are unhappy with the 
spending levels in the bills. They insist more money be added to each 
and every appropriation bill, and it happens time and time again.
  During the Presidency of Mr. Clinton, constantly bills were vetoed 
because they did not have enough spending money. They try to put it all 
on the backs of those who choose to put the money back in the pockets 
of the American taxpayer. I am one of those that is proud to give money 
back into the families' pockets in America, those who best spend the 
money on their families, on their children, on their futures. But to 
sit here and blame Republicans and insist or insinuate we do not care 
about Social Security is absolutely false, absolutely false. We are not 
privatizing Social Security. We are strengthening it. And if the 
Democrats would participate in cutting spending on some wasteful 
programs, we may actually make some progress.
  We are committed to the war on terrorism. We are committed to 
supporting our President in fighting this war on terrorism. And I am 
committed to spending the money to eradicate al Qaeda, and I am 
prepared to spend the money to support our men and women in uniform 
fighting for us here and abroad. I am prepared as a Member of this body 
to do what it takes to ensure the survival of this country and its 
citizens; and I am also committed to fighting for Social Security, as 
is every Republican.
  My colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), chairs the 
committee and he cares about Social Security. All of us face 
constituents that are in their senior years. My parents may be 
watching, who are drawing Social Security. I care about them deeply.
  So if we are going to have a record on Social Security spending, 
bring it on. If we are going to talk about deficits, bring it on, 40 
years of deficits. Bring that debate to this floor, and I will match 
them word for word, dollar for dollar. I will show the Members where it 
has been spent for 40 years.
  We balanced the budget in 5 years. We brought tax relief to American 
families. We strengthened education. We are improving Medicare. We are 
solidifying Social Security. The temerity of the other party to sit 
here and scare seniors is appalling.
  It is appalling to scare seniors, who should be enjoying their 
retirement. Instead, they rattle out these charts and threaten 
financial collapse, and suggest and use names of people who have 
disrupted their own companies. Go ahead and mention Enron; go ahead and 
mention those crooks. They are crooks; they stole from their companies 
and their shareholders. That is not our fault. They were cheats and we 
should punish them. I will join in a chorus of outrage against those 
corporate mischievous people.
  But I will not stand by and listen to this demagoguery that we have 
plundered Social Security, because the record will in fact reflect, as 
I stated at the beginning, nine of the 11 times Social Security was 
violated were by Democratic administrations, Democratic Congresses.
  Bring it on, I am ready, because I love this country. I love our 
seniors. I come from a senior district, and I will work tirelessly to 
ensure that not only do they receive their checks, but we will balance 
the initiatives for all Americans, young and old, rich and poor. No 
class warfare; quit pointing fingers.
  Let us do the heavy lifting. If we want to cut spending, we can save 
Social Security and the budget. If they want to keep spending like 
drunken sailors, then they will have the kind of deficits they have had 
for 40 years when they ran the place.

                          ____________________