Doris Matsui: “Social Security is probably the most important program Americans have had over the years. It takes care of the senior…”

“Social Security is probably the most important program Americans have had over the years. It takes care of the senior citizens of America. As anybody knows, if we did not have Social Security today, half the senior population would live in poverty. One-third of the benefits of Social Security go to families that have the bread winner disabled or perhaps dies. So many children who no longer have a mother or father who are the bread winners in that family can still go on to school and perhaps college. This is a very, very critical program. What the budget of the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt) does is adds 18 more years to that program so that it will be solvent to the year 2050, 50 more years of solvency total. The Republican plan does not add one year to that solvency. As we continue this debate, it is my hope that the Republicans respond to the March 13 letter from the actuary of the Social Security, Mr. Harry Ballantine of which everyone bases their conclusions on.”