[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H6111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GOP SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN CONTINUES THE RAID ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUND
(Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, the authors of the Congressional Republican
Social Security privatization plan are not being straight with the
American people. The Republicans claim that the plan that they
introduced last month includes a lockbox that prevents the use of
Social Security funds for other programs. This could not be further
from the truth.
Under their privatization plan, Social Security's surplus cash would
continue to go to the government, which would continue to spend it.
Instead of a Social Security trust fund, account holders get Treasury
bonds.
Even the bill's Republican author, the Social Security Subcommittee
chairman, has acknowledged that under their bill the cash can still be
used in the way it is now.
Over the last 4 years, the Republicans have raided $670 billion from
the Social Security trust fund to help pay for tax breaks. Despite
their rhetoric now, the new Republican Social Security privatization
scheme proves that they are up to their old tricks.
As we prepare for the 70th anniversary of Social Security next month,
the American people deserve a plan that strengthens Social Security for
future generations and stops the raid on the Social Security trust
fund.
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