[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 22, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H4900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 
President's Social Security plan. Social Security represents the values 
of hardworking communities that Americans in small towns across this 
country hold dear. It is the fulfillment of our Nation's promise that 
if you work hard and follow the rules, you will be rewarded for your 
lifetime of work with a secure retirement.
  Today, Social Security keeps 50 percent of seniors out of poverty. No 
politicians should be allowed to take away the retirement benefits that 
workers in rural America have earned through Social Security. As a 
part-time farmer myself, I know how much rural families rely on Social 
Security. Farm families have tight budgets, even in good years, and 
most do not have access to employer retirement accounts such as 401(k) 
plans. Instead of standing up for our rural communities and values, the 
President's Social Security plan cuts benefits and jeopardizes the most 
important safety net in rural areas for retirees, survivors and the 
disabled.
  All of rural America needs to read the fine print on President Bush's 
plan to privatize Social Security. Protecting the promise of Social 
Security is important to every worker, to every generation and to every 
family, especially to rural America.

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