[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

[[Page H4124]]

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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