Larson: Republican Games Threaten Social Security

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Bipartisan Policy Center projected some of the dire impacts of the U.S. defaulting on its debt for the first time ever.  

“In the first half of June, $50 billion in Social Security benefits need to go out, and Republican games to get the cuts they demand to programs, like SNAP food benefits and Social Security, threaten those payments from getting to beneficiaries,” said Larson. “Republicans want to push our economy to the brink for their cruel cuts, even if that means veterans, Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries, and children and workers who depend on nutrition assistance suffer. 

“The 14th Amendment reads, ‘The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.’ I support President Biden’s exploration of utilizing the 14th Amendment. I would prefer we went through regular order and Congress did its job, but playing politics with people’s lives is not Congress performing its responsibilities and therefore, if necessary, the Executive Branch should step in to guarantee people are not left in the lurch,” Larson concluded.   

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