Larson Supports Bipartisan Social Security Child Protection Act, Implores Republican Colleagues to Vote to Enhance Benefits
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) led House Democrats on the House Floor in support of the Social Security Child Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to protect children against identity theft by allowing them to receive a new Social Security number and card if theirs has been stolen in the mail, and called on Congress to act to enhance benefits for the first time in more than 50 years.
You can view Rep. Larson's remarks here.
“We have heard from parents about their child's Social Security cards being stolen in the mail when they are first issued,” said Larson. “From there, criminals are able to hold on to that number and use it for nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, children who never receive their Social Security card in the mail may not realize for many years that their identity has been stolen. That is why this legislation is so critical and so important.
“It’s rare that we bring forward Social Security legislation,” Larson continued. “Social Security is the number one anti-poverty program in the country — the number one anti-poverty program for the elderly, and the number one anti-poverty program for children. It’s been more than 50 years since the Congress has taken any action to enhance Social Security, so this is deemed a huge step forward to focus on a policy that is much needed. More than five million of our fellow Americans get below poverty level checks from Social Security. 10,000 Baby Boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and Congress hasn’t even taken a vote. It’s not a lot to ask of Congress, and I hope that our distinguished colleagues somehow find the resolve to vote on enhancing Social Security benefits.”
Last year, Larson reintroduced the Social Security 2100 Act with nearly 200 of his Democratic colleagues to extend the program’s solvency and increase benefits across-the-board for the 67 million Americans who receive Social Security.