[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PROMISE ACT OF 2026

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am announcing my intention to object to 
any unanimous consent request to proceed to S. 4979, the PROMISE Act of 
2026.
  I support my colleagues' efforts to address one of the most pressing 
issues for Americans: the future of Social Security. However, this bill 
creates a fast-track process to change Social Security in just 5 
months, limiting the public's ability to participate and provide input 
on the future of their earned benefits.
  This bill would direct the Social Security Advisory Board to produce 
a legislative proposal that extends Social Security's financing at 
least 50 years in less than 2 months. The Social Security Advisory 
Board is a seven-member advisory body appointed by Congress and the 
President to provide advice and recommendations of matters related to 
the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs and 
policies.
  Producing a solvency proposal in such a short timeframe would be a 
herculean task for an Agency with hundreds of employees. However, 
Trump, Russ Vought, and DOGE's crusade against career civil servants 
has slashed the Board's staff down to three full-time employees.
  Following the Board's work, Congress would have to deliberate and 
pass a bill during a lameduck session with limited opportunities to 
amend the proposal. In contrast, the 1983 Social Security solvency 
reform package--the last comprehensive solvency bill passed by 
Congress--was the culmination of 2 years of debate, dozens of days of 
hearings and markups, hundreds of amendments in committee and on the 
floor, and a full conference committee to further amend the bill. 
Limiting debate in the open pushes debate behind closed doors.
  Finally, the Finance Committee has not had an opportunity to hold a 
hearing on the legislation or the underlying policy issue. It is 
premature for the full Senate to debate this legislation.
  The solution to addressing Social Security's solvency challenges is 
to address Social Security's solvency challenges. Democrats have put 
forward several proposals that would strengthen Social Security's 
finances and extend the program's funding into the next century. 
Republicans have yet to put forward a single proposal.
  For these reasons, I will object to any unanimous consent request in 
relation to this legislation.

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