[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 68 (Monday, April 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E331-E332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AND ELON MUSK'S THEFT OF SOCIAL 
              SECURITY TO PAY FOR HANDOUTS TO BILLIONAIRES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 21, 2025

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as a policymaker and citizen, I 
unconditionally and absolutely reject President Trump's and Elon Musk's 
work to steal American's Social Security benefits, a scheme that hurts 
middle-class and working-class families and seniors to pay for tax 
handouts to billionaires. When Americans already face increased prices 
and economic hardship from the President's chaotic policies, Mr. Trump 
threatens Social Security--the leading assistance program that 73 
million Americans depend on for monthly assistance. This group includes 
the more than 7 million seniors aged 65 or older for whom 90 percent of 
their income is their earned Social Security benefits. Without Social 
Security, 52.2 percent of older women would live in poverty. About 45 
percent of Black seniors, 52 percent of Latino seniors, and 41 percent 
of Asian-American seniors rely mostly or only on Social Security for 
income. This effort to gut Social Security is an appalling illustration 
of the highest level of greed, where billionaires rob from hard-working 
Americans to augment their wealth.
  By slashing staff, closing 6 out of 10 regional offices, cutting 
customer service operations, restricting phone service assistance, and 
spreading falsehoods about the Social Security Administration (SSA), 
Trump and Musk jeopardize Americans' earned benefits and security. Let 
me be clear--cuts to the Social Security Administration that prevent 
beneficiaries from accessing their benefits are absolutely, 
unequivocally backdoor benefit cuts. Seniors and people with 
disabilities cannot get help by phone due to reduced phone service. 
They can't get help by the website that frequently crashes and presents 
access barriers to the elderly. Nor can they get help in person given 
the increased distance to offices and longer wait times due to dramatic 
staff cuts and office closures.
  At the time when the greatest number of baby boomers are retiring and 
need the most help and when SSA already is at its lowest staffing level 
in decades, it is unconscionable that the Republicans seek to gut 
Social Security and throw seniors, orphans, and those with disabilities 
into poverty. All baby boomers will be 67 by 2031. So we are in the 
peak period of retirement. I introduced the Keeping Our Field Offices 
Open Act as an essential step to protecting Social Security benefits 
for the 1 in 5 Americans who need these community offices. Field 
offices serve as a lifeline for seniors and people with disabilities, 
giving the in-person assistance to ensure they receive their correct 
benefits. In my Congressional District alone, 68,550 retired workers, 
12,772 disabled workers, and 5,239 widowers or parents receive critical 
Social Security benefits. An additional 25,000 receive Supplemental 
Security Income to pay their bills and survive. These constituents rely 
on field offices when they need help. Field offices are not extra or 
fluff; they are crucial.
  I also must refuse the default Republican Social Security ``reform'' 
of raising the retirement age to 70 given that it would 
disproportionately harm Black men and communities of color who have 
lower life expectances. Systematic inequalities in socioeconomic 
status, education, food security, and access to healthcare play an 
intricate role in life expectancy. The life expectancy for Black men is 
age 72.8, in contrast to 77.5 for White men. All Americans should 
equitably reap the earned benefits of their tireless labor.
  With fewer than 100 days in office, President Trump has already 
caused tremendous harm to Social Security, jeopardizing the well-being 
of tens of millions of seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. 
This assault on Social Security is an assault on our nation's most 
vulnerable and least secure. Across the nation, this damage is in 
addition to his erratic

[[Page E332]]

and senseless tariffs and the dramatic reductions or eliminations of 
essential supports for housing, healthcare, food, and education and so 
much more. These policies threaten the livelihoods of individuals and 
our nation's economy--all so the obscenely wealthy grow more secure 
while condemning the majority to a precarious existence, defenseless 
against life's unpredictability and wholly susceptible to exploitation 
and despair. I will fight with every ounce of my being to oppose 
President Trump's and Elon Musk's theft of Social Security and the 
Republican effort to cripple Americans for their greed.

                          ____________________