[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 25163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        SOCIAL SECURITY LOCKBOX BILL HELD HOSTAGE BY FILIBUSTERS

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, on May 6 of this year, 139 days ago, I joined 
with 415 of my colleagues here in the House in supporting H.R. 1259, 
the social security lockbox bill.
  The fight to stop the raid on social security in this year's budget 
debate offers the best possible reason for passing the social security 
lockbox bill. If the lockbox were in place this year, the big spenders 
would have to think twice before trying to go after the funds that 
rightly should be set aside for the seniors of today and tomorrow. We 
must stop balancing the Federal budget on the backs of our seniors and 
our social security trust fund.
  Unfortunately, Members of the minority in the other body refuse to 
allow this bill to be brought to the floor for a vote. Six times there 
has been an effort to end the filibuster. Six times that effort has 
failed. The social security lockbox bill has been held hostage for 139 
days. One hundred and thirty-nine days is long enough. It is time for 
the other body to act.

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