[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17136-17137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY AND IMPROVING EDUCATION IN AMERICA

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, over the last month, I held 
many town hall meetings, meetings with constituents across the 7th 
Congressional District of Michigan.
  Two priority issues that seem to come from those meetings as a 
message to me to bring back to Washington was making sure we save 
Social Security, not only a concern of the seniors but a concern of 
their kids and their grandkids.
  Secondly was somehow doing a better job to improve education to make 
sure every child has the opportunity to learn to their maximum 
potential.
  So I challenge myself and I challenge my colleagues to give education 
a top priority, to get the money out of Washington and into the 
district.
  In terms of Social Security, we must have provisions that make sure 
that that generation that works so hard, that did so much, that 
sacrificed, that saved string, that saved tinfoil are not

[[Page 17137]]

deprived of the Social Security that they have been promised by this 
Congress. Let us make that effort.
  In the last 7\1/2\ years, this administration has failed to give us 
the leadership to solve those problems.
  Madam Speaker, over the last month, I held many town hall meetings, 
and forums with constituents across the 7th Congressional District of 
Michigan.
  Two priority issues that came up in most every meeting was Education 
and Social Security. Making sure we save Social Security, was not only 
a concern of the seniors but a concern of younger workers.
  Parents were concerned about the K through 12 education for their 
kids; somehow doing a better job to improve education to make sure 
every child has the opportunity to learn to their maximum potential.
  So I challenge myself and I challenge my colleagues to give education 
a top priority, to get the money out of Washington and into the class 
room so educators and parents can decide how best to use it.
  In terms of Social Security, we must have provisions that make sure 
that that generation that worked so hard, that did so much, that 
sacrificed, that saved string, that bundled tinfoil for the war effort 
are not deprived of the Social Security that they were promised. Let us 
make that effort.
  In the last 7\1/2\ years, this administration has failed to give us 
the leadership to solve those problems. Let us do better in the future.

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