[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SOCIAL SECURITY'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Mr. WAXMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th 
anniversary of the Social Security program. Social Security has been 
one of the most popular and successful government programs in our 
nation's history. It is a social compact that extends across all 
generations and all income groups. More than 95 percent of American 
workers pay into the system and without it, more than half of today's 
seniors would live below the poverty line. In addition to lifting 
millions of elderly Americans out of poverty, Social Security provides 
vital social insurance to countless disabled workers and survivor 
benefits for dependent spouses and families. Because so many people 
depend upon the Social Security benefits they have earned over a 
lifetime of work, any changes in the current system must be reviewed 
very carefully. Any effort to change the Social Security system should 
be bipartisan, reflect broad public support and continue to ensure a 
guaranteed benefit with annual cost-of-living adjustments. I will 
continue to work with my colleagues to preserve and strengthen the 
current Social Security program and to oppose any plan that would 
violate our nation's compact with retirees.

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