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

“today I rise to denounce the phony Social Security crisis that the President is trying to sell the American public. As the new Democratic Chair of the Women's Caucus, I am especially concerned because women are the first targets to be thrown off the lifeboat. Women account for 70 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries older than 85 years of age. Women depend more on Social Security because they often live longer than their spouses, anywhere from 7 to 10 years. Many have less retirement savings because they stopped working to raise their children and to take time out to take care of a family member. In the community I represent in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, there are nearly 60,000 Social Security beneficiaries. Many are disabled women, widows and wives who rely very heavily on their hard-earned monthly Social Security benefits. Democrats believe that all American workers should get the benefits they paid into. We will fight to improve the Social Security system, not dismantle it. As one of my colleagues said, 'Let's not throw grandma out with the bath water.'”