[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 105 (Thursday, July 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H5032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in our 
efforts to protect senior citizens and Social Security.
  Over the past few weeks, I have received hundreds of phone calls and 
letters from my constituents, urging me to protect Social Security, 
Medicare and Medicaid.
  I have a question: What will happen to the millions of senior 
citizens and people living in poverty who rely on these programs?
  It seems like the Republicans are focusing on giving tax breaks to 
those who need them the least. Currently, approximately 52 million 
Americans benefit from the Social Security program. According to the 
most recent statistics published by the AARP, one in six residents in 
New Jersey receives Social Security. In addition, statistics show that 
women rely more on Social Security than any other segment of our 
population.
  Therefore, I urge my Republican colleagues to put aside their 
contempt for entitlement programs and to submit to doing what is best 
for the interests of the American people.

                          ____________________