[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H4123-H4124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO ENHANCE SOCIAL SECURITY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about
the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the
number one antipoverty program for our Nation's children, which is
Social Security.
Mr. Speaker, I am here today to talk about why we need to vote in
this Chamber and why we need to take action. Astoundingly, Congress
hasn't taken action in over 53 years, which may surprise the members in
the gallery and you as well, Mr. Speaker.
Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time
Congress enhanced Social Security. Congress is the only body that can
do this. The President can't do it through executive order, and it is
nothing that the Supreme Court is going to take up. Only Members of
this institution can help out people.
There are more than 70 million Social Security recipients in the
country today, Mr. Speaker. More than 10,000 baby boomers a day become
eligible for Social Security, and we haven't enhanced a benefit for
them in over 53 years.
Now, the Republican Study Committee has come up with a plan. They say
what we need to do is cut $1.5 trillion out of Social Security over the
next 10 years, and they say they want to raise the age.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, for every year you raise the age, that is a
7 percent cut in benefits. Raising the age to 70 is a 21 percent
across-the-board cut to people that haven't had a benefit enhancement
since 1971.
I don't know how that makes any sense, given the needs of our senior
citizens and also, quite frankly, given
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the needs of our children. Also, more veterans rely on Social Security
disability than they do on the VA.
That is why we have proposed Social Security 2100, which will enhance
Social Security across the board for everyone. Let no one work all
their lives and retire into poverty.
Currently, more than 5.5 million people who have paid into Social
Security and worked all their lives get below-poverty-level checks from
the United States Government. That is unfair. That is unjust. That is
wrong, and Congress needs to take action.
If you just want to say how much you like Social Security, but you
don't have a plan and you don't want to vote, then you are not doing
anything for Social Security and you are content with its cuts.
If you want a study commission as some have said, what is it that you
are going to study? What is it that you don't know about the last 51
years? People at home at their kitchen tables pretty clearly know that
Congress needs to act and enhance Social Security and increase the
benefits that haven't been given to them in more than 53 years. It is
outrageous.
More Americans need to know about it, but Congress needs to act. The
Ways and Means Committee has cognizance over Social Security. We should
be taking this up.
If you have got a better idea than our plan to enhance Social
Security, by all means bring it out. By all means, let's have a debate
on it. For God's sake, don't we owe the American people a vote? Aren't
they entitled to know where their Members of Congress stand and what
their plan is?
Mr. Speaker, it might amaze you to know that over 193,000 recipients
of Social Security are in your district, and that brings in $324
million monthly to your constituents.
Where do they spend that money? They spend it right back in the
district at the local pharmacy, at the local grocery store, paying for
their rent, their mortgages, putting gas in their automobile. This is
one of the best economic development programs that every Member of
Congress benefits from and their constituents as well.
It is long overdue for the United States Congress to act. All we are
asking for is to put out your plan and have a vote.
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