[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5830-H5831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SOCIAL SECURITY--A SACRED TRUST

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, this global pandemic has 
impacted every nation in the world. But here in America, as we have 
seen, with just over a million people who have passed, 750,000 of them 
are over the age of 65.
  Those seniors are also the people hurt hardest by inflation, as are 
all the individuals who are on a fixed income. Democrats have a plan. 
We have a plan to address all of Americans' rising expenses that they 
are experiencing. We have a plan to address them today, tomorrow, and 
into the future. It is called Social Security.
  Social Security is the Nation's number one antipoverty program for 
the elderly and the number one antipoverty

[[Page H5831]]

program for children. And yet, Congress has not taken any action to 
expand benefits in more than 50 years. Democrats have a plan to expand 
benefits today, tomorrow, and forever.
  The Republicans have a plan also. Their plan is to end Social 
Security in 5 years. It is time for us to have this debate in front of 
the American public, not behind closed doors and let people know where 
their Member stands.

  Mr. Speaker, I refer you to this poster behind me. This poster 
demonstrates that Democrats have a plan to increase Social Security 
benefits. Republicans have a plan to cut benefits 20 percent across the 
aboard.
  Democrats have a plan that will ensure that Americans are able to 
keep pace with inflation and rising costs. The last time Congress did 
anything with Social Security, a gallon of milk was 71 cents. We all 
know what the cost of living is today, but inaction is inexcusable.
  The Republicans call for 20 separate benefit cuts to Social Security, 
and most importantly, say we are going to get there by raising the age. 
For every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in people's 
benefits. The idea that people would say, Well, people are living 
longer so we have to raise their age--imagine that. So you are living 
longer; the Republicans want you to live on less or work until you die.
  The time of reckoning is upon us. President Biden has called Social 
Security a sacred trust. As you heard Mr. Ruiz say before, the concept 
of making sure that WEP and GPO is repealed so that teachers and 
firefighters and policemen can get the benefits they deserve, and also 
to make sure that nobody who works all their life and pays into a 
system. These are not entitlements, as they say in their book and in 
their Republican study plan. These are the benefits that people have 
paid for out of their pockets; working people, of all races, colors, 
and creed in this Nation who deserve that sacred trust, that promise 
that the American people know is theirs in the sacred trust that Social 
Security represents.
  The Republicans have a plan to end Social Security in 5 years. How 
about you join us and expand Social Security benefits for people who 
need them in the midst of this pandemic, in the face of what is 
happening to our seniors.
  The time to act is now. We don't need a double-secret probation study 
like they are advocating in the Senate. We need to do this out in 
public, with the people, demonstrating what we stand for.
  Democrats stand for enhancing benefits and improving the quality of 
life of our seniors. You stand for cutting their benefits and ending 
Social Security in 5 years.
  Mr. Speaker, we will have a Special Order on this topic later today.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their 
comments to the Chair.

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