[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 27063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          LOCKBOX HELD HOSTAGE

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, if you turn on the television networks 
tonight, you will see a new broadcast season under way. There are new 
shows and new stars on old shows. TV fans had a long wait for a new 
season, more than 4 months of summer reruns. American seniors have had 
a long wait as well, a long wait for Congress to implement the lockbox 
protection for their Social Security. This body passed the lockbox bill 
on May 26, 153 days ago. Since that time, the other body has failed to 
act. Every attempt to bring the Social Security lockbox up for a vote 
has fallen victim to a filibuster threat. For 140 days, the minority 
party in the other body has held the lockbox bill hostage. That is long 
enough. This year's fight to stop the raid on Social Security proves 
our seniors need and deserve lockbox protection for their Social 
Security. Let us free the Social Security lockbox bill. One hundred 
forty days held hostage is long enough.

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