[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 27674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    LOCKBOX LEGISLATION HELD HOSTAGE

  (Mr. HERGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was Halloween, another landmark 
along the trail of days since the House passed my Social Security 
lockbox protection bill. Since we passed this important bill on May 26, 
we have celebrated Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, 
Columbus Day and now Halloween. Veterans Day is only 10 days from now 
and Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas are just around the corner. 
And all this time what has happened to the Social Security lockbox in 
the other body? Absolutely nothing. On six separate occasions, 
Democrats in the other body have voted to keep this vital bill from 
coming to the Senate floor for a vote.
  Despite the stall on the lockbox bill, we will be successful this 
year in protecting Social Security and Medicare funds from the 
congressional big spenders. Stopping the raid was not easy. It will be 
a tough fight for years into the future unless the fight is made easier 
with the passage of the Social Security lockbox bill.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for seniors to stop counting holidays and to 
start counting on the money that should be set aside for their 
retirement needs.

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