[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 102 (Monday, July 11, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 230--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ANY 
   AGREEMENT TO REDUCE THE BUDGET DEFICIT SHOULD NOT INCLUDE CUTS TO 
             SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OR MEDICARE BENEFITS

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Brown 
of Ohio, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Franken) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance:

                              S. Res. 230

       Whereas over 34,000,000 retired workers currently receive 
     Social Security benefits in amounts that average a modest 
     $14,100 a year;
       Whereas, in 2008, 23 percent of retired workers receiving 
     Social Security benefits depended on those benefits for all 
     or almost all of their income;
       Whereas according to AARP, Social Security benefits kept 36 
     percent of seniors out of poverty in 2008;
       Whereas reducing Social Security benefits would cause many 
     seniors to have to choose between food, drugs, rent, and 
     heat;
       Whereas 95 percent of seniors in the United States, who 
     numbered almost 37,000,000 in 2008, got their health care 
     coverage through the Medicare program;
       Whereas without Medicare benefits, seniors, many of whom 
     live off of Social Security benefits, would have to turn to 
     the costly and uncertain private market for health care 
     coverage;
       Whereas the Social Security program and the Medicare 
     program are extremely successful social insurance programs 
     that permit seniors in America to retire with dignity and 
     security after a lifetime of hard work; and
       Whereas the Social Security program and the Medicare 
     program help relieve young American families from worry about 
     their own futures, allowing freedom of opportunity in 
     America: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that any 
     agreement to reduce the budget deficit should not include 
     cuts to Social Security benefits or Medicare benefits.

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