[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 109 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H5925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, 75 years ago this country recognized the 
plight of senior citizens who had no retirement, who were forced to 
move in with their kids when they got old; and we created Social 
Security. And it has been a tremendous success. Many people, however, 
don't realize what else Social Security does for this country.
  About 8.5 million Americans who have a disability that limits their 
ability to work receive assistance from the program. Roughly 6.5 
million children receive part of their family income through a program 
which has lifted nearly 2 million of them out of poverty.
  When their breadwinner, when their father or their mother, dies, 
Social Security gives them a benefit. Some of them have used it to go 
to college. And through the Social Security program, another 7.5 
million people, very low income and severely disabled people, receive 
critical financial support to meet their most basic needs.
  I urge all my colleagues to review the entire record and support 
fixing Social Security next session.

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