Larson Opposes Backdoor Cuts to Social Security
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Larson (CT-01), Lead Democrat on the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee gave the following remarks after the Republicans attempted to pass a measure requiring devastating cuts to the middle class, seniors, Social Security, and Medicare having already passed a disastrous tax bill that gave tax relief to the wealthy and corporations.
Click here to watch Larson's remarks.
"What a profile in lack of courage this is today, exhibited in the House of Representatives. But it does give us an opportunity, however limited the time is, to expose a lot of the myths, like this notion that the other side continues to perpetuate that Social Security and Medicare are entitlements. Newsflash! It's the insurance that the American people have paid for. Newsflash! 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. Newsflash! The average woman in this country, when they retire, gets $14,000 annually from Social Security. For more than half of them, that's all they have to live on. And yet these bastions of courage on the other side would like to cut these programs. Not by coming to the floor of the House of Representatives and having a vote on it. Not by having a discussion in a committee or even the semblance of a hearing. But by somehow deciding to introduce an amendment where they'll never, ever have to vote on what their constituents will actually have to face day in and day out. These are American citizens who have paid for an insurance program, not an entitlement. It's called FICA. The Federal Insurance Contribution Act. Whose contribution? The American people's contribution. If you want to take it away, have the courage to bring up a bill and vote on it. How about we increase the benefits for the people of this country who need it?"
Larson is the lead sponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, which would enhance and expand Social Security, give current beneficiaries a benefit bump, and make the program solvent beyond the 75 year window. He continues to encourage his colleagues to come together and work on solutions, not cuts for this critical insurance and retirement program.
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