[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28508]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  STOPPING THE RAID ON SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. THUNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, being a leader means making some tough 
choices. This year we have an historic opportunity to lock away 100 
percent of the Social Security surplus and put an end to the practice 
of raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. It means we have to make a 
tough choice between Social Security and funding some other goals, like 
the President's desire to increase foreign aid spending by 30 percent.
  The question is not whether we want to spend more on foreign aid or 
other government programs, the question is whether we want to spend 
more on these programs if it comes at the expense of Social Security.
  Mr. Speaker, Republicans have already made our choice. We have chosen 
to say no to more government spending and yes to stopping the raid on 
Social Security. The American people agree with us. They would rather 
protect Social Security and Medicare and cut spending across the board 
for all other programs than raid Social Security again.
  There is only one question that has not been answered, Mr. Speaker, 
and that is: Where does the President stand and where do our friend's 
on the other side stand? Will they block this legislation and insist on 
more government spending or will they join us in a bipartisan effort to 
end the raid on Social Security once and for all. For the sake of our 
future, I hope they will choose the latter.

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