[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2779-H2780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ONGOING SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is great to be here this 
morning, and I rise to discuss the ongoing issue of Social Security.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, more than 70 million Americans rely on 
Social Security, and Social Security is the Nation's number one 
antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty 
program for children.
  It also, Mr. Speaker, is the number one program with regard to 
disability, and more veterans rely on Social Security disability than 
they do on the VA.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that Speaker Houchin was in the chair before, and 
part of our rising to speak about Social Security is to make people 
aware in their districts of how many retirees they actually have.
  For example, in New York's 19th, you have 173,667 recipients. More 
than $300 million comes into the 17th District in New York monthly for 
those recipients; 130,000 of which are retirees, 20,000 disabled 
workers, 8,900 widows, 4,247 spouses, and almost 10,000 children.
  What is astounding, Mr. Speaker, is that Congress has done nothing. 
In fact, what will shock the public is that Congress has not extended 
the benefits of Social Security in more than 50 years.

  Richard Nixon was President of the United States when Congress last 
acted. Imagine 10,000 baby boomers a day becoming eligible for Social 
Security. Yet, Congress has done nothing.
  More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security, again, the 
Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number 
one antipoverty program for children.
  Congress continues not to do what our constituents send us here to 
do; vote. President Biden has put out a plan. We have put out a plan 
called Social Security 2100 that is detailed and paid for.
  This might also surprise you, too, Mr. Speaker, as I know it does 
many citizens, that the President's called to lift the cap on people 
making over $400,000 who pay nothing into Social Security.
  Imagine the workers, the more than 170,000 in your district who pay 
in to Social Security and have done so all throughout their lives, and 
yet, others pay nothing for the Nation's number

[[Page H2780]]

one antipoverty program. That is why this is so important that Congress 
take action and step up and do the right thing.
  With $300 million coming into New York's 17th District, Mr. Speaker, 
those are dollars that are spent locally right back in the community.
  For all people listening to C-SPAN or people that are guests in our 
audience, Mr. Speaker, they should be making sure that they are calling 
their Representatives and making them aware of the fact that this 
program has not been enhanced.
  This is no entitlement. This is an earned benefit that people have 
paid for and that only the United States Congress can act to change so 
that these individuals will get relief.
  Imagine a cost-of-living increase that hasn't been enhanced in over 
50 years. I hope that the American people, and more importantly, this 
Congress acts on behalf of the people that desperately need our help.

                          ____________________