[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   KEEP THE TRUST IN SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I noted with interest my colleague from 
Florida talking about Ida May Fuller, the first recipient of a Social 
Security check January 31, 1940. I, too, think that she is a symbol of 
what this debate is about. The debate is about our commitment to assure 
that our seniors and disabled and widows and survivors are not 
subjected to a life of poverty.
  We do have far fewer workers today than we had for each Social 
Security recipient. We also have far fewer dependents today. In many 
households today there are more workers than there are dependents. We 
are changing, but this was part of a plan that was approved by 
President Reagan and Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill to change the 
Social Security program in 1983 to build up a $1.3 trillion surplus 
that will continue building up in the future.
  We do not have a problem if we keep the trust in Social Security and 
use that surplus for what it is used for, rather than spend it on tax 
cuts for people who do not need it or other frivolous government 
spending.
  I strongly urge that we keep the commitment to the Ida May Fullers of 
the future by using that money for what it was intended.

                          ____________________