[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2105-H2106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Ms. Kaptur of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Social Security. 
It is a sacred trust and a solemn promise to generations of America's 
workers. It is a promise that includes a retirement benefit that is 
earned. It is a disability benefit in the event of injury. It is also a 
survivorship benefit, an insurance benefit for families if the earner 
becomes ill or is fatally hurt and dies.
  This belongs to all Americans who work. Workers pay into this earned 
benefit system, and they do it through their FICA taxes. It comes out 
of a check every month. Social Security is earned.
  Yet, President Trump and his administration, especially the DOGE 
boys--I bet you nobody in this Chamber even knows their names--have 
worked to weaken this 90-year-old security benefit.
  The Trump administration and their approach threatens the Social 
Security Administration's ability to operate. They have already cut 
over 7,000 jobs of employees who administer this program to millions of 
Americans from coast to coast.
  In my district alone, there was an 11 percent decrease in Social 
Security field office workers. That means appointments are delayed, and 
questions can't be answered for months. Sometimes the phone isn't 
answered through no fault of their own.
  I want to say to every single public employee who works in a Social 
Security office across this country that they are patriots. We thank 
them for the work they do. We salute them. We salute them for their 
patriotism.
  Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration says they are not 
closing any offices; but the so-called Department of Government 
Efficiency, DOGE, is attempting to weaken and dismantle a system which 
has stood tall for almost a century, created by Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt.
  More than 11,000 Americans turn 65 each day. Many will graduate to 
access benefits and, ultimately, Medicare for their own health. 
Congress must ensure that our citizens have a guaranteed safe and 
secure retirement. They worked for it.
  DOGE not only threatens Social Security by removing vital staff 
across our country but by mistreating and exposing beneficiaries' 
private and personal information.
  In my entire lifetime, I have never seen strangers go into the U.S. 
Treasury Department and peek at other people's private beneficiary 
records. This is un-American. We can't even name the names of those who 
did this.
  The private information of the American people should not be fed into 
AI software somewhere or made open for the entire internet, which is 
full of hackers to access. We must protect the assets of our people and 
those who trust this program.
  Social Security information has always been private until now. Social 
Security is often the only resource that keeps our seniors out of 
poverty. For more than 7 million Americans over the age of 65, at least 
90 percent of their income comes from Social Security, which they 
earned.
  Of those 7 million, almost half would not be able to afford 
essentials such as food, housing, and clothing without Social Security 
benefits. Now due to tariffs and inflation caused by Trump, those costs 
continue to go up, up, and up for everybody including seniors. It is 
hardest on them.
  Every county in Ohio has at least 20 percent of its population 
receiving some form of Social Security benefits, and this means Social 
Security plays a huge role economically in northwestern Ohio's economy.

                              {time}  1100

  Standing up for our region and our seniors is one of my highest 
priorities in Congress, and that is why last year, when Social Security 
celebrated its 90th birthday, I introduced a resolution to demonstrate 
continued support from Congress for this program. It must be 
strengthened to support Americans and the next generation throughout 
their retirement for decades to come.
  Raising the retirement age would reduce benefits for millions of 
Americans, placing an unnecessary burden on

[[Page H2106]]

seniors and those who are close to retirement.
  I promise to oppose any changes to the retirement age for these 
vital, national retirement, disability, and insurance programs. If 
seniors choose to keep working after age 60 or age 65, that is okay, 
but they will be taxed on their income. That is only fair, but that 
FICA tax will go into Social Security.
  I thank all of our colleagues who joined in supporting my resolution 
and urge others to consider supporting this resolution, which 
demonstrates the House of Representatives' dedication to protecting 
retirement security by not raising the retirement age. I support 
strengthening Social Security, not cutting and gutting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I end with Social Security is a sacred trust from one 
generation to the next, and we intend to keep it.
  God bless every senior in this country and those who will access that 
important age of 65-66 very soon.

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