[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H23]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOCIAL SECURITY: A PROMISE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I wish my constituents back home in the 21st 
Congressional District and Americans throughout the country a very 
happy new year. May it bring us good tidings and health, and may the 
Congress come together to solve some of the critical problems that we 
are facing in our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, nearly 83 years ago, the first Social Security check 
went out. Beginning as a promise for future generations of America, it 
was an attempt to create a safety net; and it has. Social Security is 
the major source of income for the majority of people over the age of 
65; that accounts for over 70 million Americans.
  In my 21st Congressional District, located in California's San 
Joaquin Valley, nearly 88,000 people depend upon this program for their 
basic needs: for food, for rent, for groceries. It is critical 
therefore that we address the issues involving Social Security.
  A lot has changed in our country since it was first enacted in the 
1930s during the Great Depression. Americans today, those who are 
receiving, and those who hope to receive Social Security, fear that the 
future of this vital program and their benefits are at risk, and they 
should be.
  Why? Well, the long-term financial integrity of Social Security is 
not sustainable, and therefore, we have to fix it.
  Instead of fixing Social Security, many of my extreme MAGA 
Republicans are focused on gutting the program and cutting vital 
benefits. That is wrong.
  Under the leadership of my good friend Congressman   John Larson, 
House Democrats have put forth a plan of action to secure and expand 
the benefits of Social Security. The Social Security Act of 2100: A 
Sacred Trust Act permanently improves Social Security's long-term 
health by extending the trust fund's solvency, which is critical, 
without any increase in taxes on the middle class. Let me repeat that: 
without any increase in taxes on the middle class.
  It also repeals the bureaucratic rules, like the Windfall Elimination 
Provision and the Government Pension Offset that prevents law 
enforcement officers, firefighters, and their families from receiving 
full benefits. They should receive full benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of this bill because Congress 
must uphold its promise to all seniors so they can retire with respect 
and dignity.
  What are we talking about? We are talking about America's safety net. 
American seniors and future generations deserve better. We owe it to 
them who have spent their entire lives contributing to make their 
country a better place to live and who are counting on Social Security 
in their golden years.
  Our country needs a roadmap to protect Social Security for 
generations to come, and this bill will do just that. I remain 
committed to upholding the sacred trust that was made many years ago, 
working together with Republicans and Democrats for all Americans to 
fix the solvency of our Social Security system.


                          Securing Our Border

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, much has been said about the challenges we 
face at the border and immigration in America. We must fix this broken 
immigration system. We had an opportunity in 2013, and Republicans and 
Democrats must come together to protect our border, to protect it from 
human trafficking and from the movement of illicit drugs.
  With commonsense action, I believe we can come together to do this. I 
will continue to work with my colleagues so that we can fix our broken 
immigration system and secure our border. That is what needs to be 
done.

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