Hilda L. Solis: “today I rise to denounce the so-called Social Security crisis that President Bush is trying to sell the American public.…”

“today I rise to denounce the so-called Social Security crisis that President Bush is trying to sell the American public. As the Democratic chair of the Women's Caucus, I am especially concerned about the impact of privatization on women. The President is proposing drastic cuts in Social Security survivor benefits. Nationally, 50 percent of Social Security beneficiaries receive all or part of their benefit either as a widow or widower, spouse or child of a worker or a disabled worker. Over 80 percent of the beneficiaries are women and children. Right now the typical widow receives a Social Security benefit of $865 a month. If the 45 percent cut projected by the Congressional Budget Office were to take effect currently, they will only receive $476 per month. In my own family, I have a relative who is a widow whose family receives Social Security survivor benefits for her last child. She had three. If it was not for that amount of money, she would be living in poverty. Democrats believe that all American workers should get the benefits they paid for. We will fight to improve the Social Security system and not dismantle it.”