[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H191-H192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FATE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, as we sit here currently, the
Budget Committee is undertaking a matter of grave concern.
I include in the Record letters from both the AFGE and the AFL-CIO
with respect to the establishment of the so-called fiscal commission.
January 12, 2024.
AFGE Applauds Lawmakers' Call To Reject Fiscal Commission
Washington--The American Federation of Government Employees
is echoing calls from nearly 120 lawmakers for Congress to
reject a proposed fiscal commission that would bypass elected
leadership and make recommendations to slash vital federal
programs and government services.
``A fiscal commission would give a small group of lawmakers
and non-elected individuals enormous power to recommend cuts
to Social Security and other popular programs without any
ability for the public to weigh in,'' AFGE National President
Everett Kelley said.
``If Congress is serious about preserving Social Security,
Medicare, and similar programs for future generations, then
it needs to have an honest discussion about how to do that--
not pawn off these decisions to a secret group behind closed
doors.''
On Jan. 11, Reps. John Larson of Connecticut and Jan
Schakowsky of Illinois sent a letter to House Speaker Mike
Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signed by 116
members of the U.S. House calling on them to exclude a fiscal
commission from legislation funding the federal government
for the remainder of fiscal 2024 or any other must-pass
bills.
``It is Congress's responsibility to conduct the oversight
and recommend enhancements to solvency or cuts, and it should
be done in the open and not behind closed doors,'' the letter
states. ``We do not need a Commission to tell us what we must
do, we need the political courage to take up these or any
other proposals in regular order.''
Congress, for example, has yet to advance Rep. John
Larson's Social Security 2100 Act, which would modernize
Social Security, increase benefits, and safeguard the trust
fund--all without raising taxes on middle income Americans or
raising the retirement age. Congress still hasn't agreed on
full-year funding for federal agencies, which have been
operating under continuing resolutions since the fiscal year
began Oct. 1.
``With just a week before government funding runs out for
various departments including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture,
HUD, and Transportation, Congress should focus on passing
full-year funding for these and other government programs
instead of trying to pawn off its tough decisions to an
exclusive commission,'' Kelley said.
____
AFL-CIO,
Legislative Alert,
January 17, 2024.
Dear Representative: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I urge you
to oppose the Fiscal Commission Act (H.R. 5779), the Debt-to-
GDP Transparency and Stabilization Act (H.R. 6957), and the
Fiscal State of the Nation Act (H.R. 6952), when they are
considered by the House Budgt Committee tomorrow. These bills
would help set the stage for the kind of fiscal brinksmanship
that demands cuts to workers' Social Security, Medicare, and
Medicaid benefits as the price of preventing government
shutdowns. Instead of perpetuating this dysfunction, we
believe Congress should commit to deliberating fiscal issues
through the committees charged to examine these issues with
transparency and an open process.
The AFL-CIO strongly opposes the Fiscal Commission Act.
Under this bill, closed-door drafting of provisions to reduce
federal deficits through program cuts and revenue changes
would produce a bill that cannot be amended. Fast track
procedures would require expedited floor consideration in the
House and in the Senate without filibuster. The lack of
transparency and accountability in such a process raises
significant doubts about the intentions behind the approach,
such as substantial benefit cuts in Social Security and other
federal programs. We share The White House's characterization
of this commission as a potential ``death panel'' for Social
Security.
The Debt-to-GDP Transparency and Stabilization Act would
establish a reporting mechanism that could be incorporated in
a debt enforcement trigger for social benefit cuts in
subsequent legislation. Such a debt trigger would come into
play in times of recession when GDP contracts--exactly the
worst time to implement benefit cuts on working families and
slow the economy. Congress can acquire this data for its
deliberations without establishing this mechanism, and we ask
you to oppose this bill.
We also oppose the Fiscal State of the Nation Act in its
current form. The bill would require an annual joint session
of Congress to review reports of the government's assets and
liabilities audited by the Government Accountability Office.
We believe this annual session would be used to fan the
flames of fiscal brinksmanship.
The recent history of fiscal commissions and super
committees has shown that they
[[Page H192]]
have failed to initiate salutary legislative efforts to
reduce the deficit. Unfortunately, they were successful in
paving the way for legislative efforts to cut federal
worker's pay and benefits and in imposing budget caps that
impacted appropriations for essential federal services. They
did not lead to more equitable approaches to deficit
reduction that balance program cuts with higher taxes for the
wealthy.
We urge you to consider alternative legislation that can
secure programs like Social Security and Medicare for the
future while also improving affordability for seniors and
working people. For instance, supporting legislation to
extend Medicare's negotiation of lower drug prices for
seniors and extending these savings to all working people. In
addition, we encourage you to support Ranking Member Boyle's
Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (H.R. 4535),
which would ensure those earning more than $400.000 pay their
fair share in taxes to extend the sufficiency of the Social
Security trust fund and Medicare.
In conclusion, I urge you to oppose the legislation that
will be considered in tomorrow's mark up and to help advance
the many bills already introduced that manage to
simultaneously reduce the deficit and inequality.
Sincerely,
William Samuel,
Director, Government Affairs.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I think it is vitally
important that Members understand what is being proposed and how it
totally relies on no Member of this body other than the select few, Mr.
Speaker, who will be chosen.
The commission is comprised of 16 individuals, 4 who are outside
experts and not part of this body. The Senate will have six Members
that they choose, three Republicans, three Democrats; the House three
Democrats, three Republicans.
In a body of 435 people here, 3 Democrats and 3 Republicans will
decide the future and fate of Social Security and Medicare. It is
interesting. They will do so behind closed doors, with no obligation to
report in public. Interestingly enough, too, the bill calls for them to
form the committee, but they don't have to report back until after the
election during a lameduck session.
Imagine that, Mr. Speaker. The committees of cognizance here that
deal with these issues will have no relevance.
The only thing that will matter is an up-or-down vote decided by
these individuals behind closed doors that is unamendable and comes to
this floor for an up-or-down vote. This is outrageous, and it is wrong.
There are several remedies and proposals that exist out there for
Social Security. This is what is so vitally important.
Close to 70 million Americans depend on Social Security, and Social
Security doesn't create one penny of debt. It is a program that is
fully paid for that cannot be borrowed from and has to be actuarially
sound. Yet it is thrown in here by a desire by some to use a
clandestine, subterranean, double-secret probation committee to cut
benefits from Americans.
Adding insult to injury, the last time Congress enhanced the benefits
for Social Security, Richard Nixon was President. That is more than 53
years ago now that Congress took some action to enhance benefits for
people.
Mr. Speaker, 10,000 baby boomers per day become eligible for Social
Security. More than 5 million of our fellow Americans get below-
poverty-level checks, having worked all their lives and paid into the
system.
What we need is a vote on Social Security. Put both measures side by
each: a proposal to do a double-secret probation study committee versus
actual legislation to improve and enhance Social Security for the more
than 70 million Americans who will be participating.
Every single Member of Congress has Social Security recipients. We
have sent you the exact number for your district. Imagine not having
any increases in more than 53 years, for 40 percent of all Americans.
In a Nation of more than 300 million people, for minimally 28 million
Americans, this is the only thing they have for retirement. As everyone
in this body knows, it is not just simply retirement. It is also
spousal and dependent coverage. For military veterans especially, it is
also for disability. This body has not done anything, nor the Senate,
in 53 years.
All this study is, is kicking the can down the road and creating
further problems. Oppose this legislation.
____________________