Doris Matsui: “I appreciate today that he has put together this opportunity for a number of us to speak on the floor of the House on…”

“I appreciate today that he has put together this opportunity for a number of us to speak on the floor of the House on this very, very critical and important issue of Social Security. I might just mention the importance of Social Security to all Americans. It is probably the most significant program that the Federal Government has put together in the last 100 years, perhaps in the history of our country. Every American is touched by Social Security; and, unlike what many people think, Social Security is not just a program for those people 62 or 65 and older. One-third of the benefits of Social Security goes basically to women, surviving spouses, and minor children, either through the form of survivor's benefits when the breadwinner of a family dies before reaching the age of 65 or, alternatively, when the breadwinner becomes disabled. All of us understand and know the fact that, without Social Security, many young people in America today would not be able to go on to community college or State college or perhaps a university if, in fact, that breadwinner is injured or perhaps dies.”