[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today's report on the Social 
Security trust fund says that in 2018, current taxes will no longer pay 
for benefits. That means digging into our Federal Treasury. This is 
just another wakeup call. We ought to use it to provide momentum to 
reform and improve Social Security. The best way to do that is to 
increase the rate of return by creating personal accounts for young 
people.
  Let us be clear. Social Security will be there for current and near 
retirees. It is the younger generations who need the most help when it 
comes to saving for retirement. Personal accounts definitely represent 
the best option.
  An election year is the perfect time to showcase the differences 
between parties and ideas. Democrats want to demagogue and tax and 
spend their way to a Social Security solution. Republicans want to 
increase the rate of return through personal responsibility and 
conservative values. The choice is clear.
  It is my hope we can move forward next year on real reform when 
politics will not stifle the debate.

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