Xavier Becerra: “Let me begin, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my colleague, but, more importantly, my dear friend, Mr. Sam Johnson from Texas…”

“Let me begin, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my colleague, but, more importantly, my dear friend, Mr. Sam Johnson from Texas, for the work that he did to move so quickly working with his able staff to try to make sure we had a bill come before us. I also want to make sure that I salute the staff on this side of the aisle for the work they did in partnership to make sure that we could quickly put a bill on the floor of this House that could address what all of us agree is a glaring omission. And so I am pleased to stand here to say, Mr. Speaker, that we have a bill that not only will take care of those dollars that Americans contributed to Social Security on a daily basis as they go to work and pay into the system, but it also will protect the dollars that so many Americans now rely on to receive their benefits. Today, Mr. Speaker, 160 million Americans work and pay into Social Security. They know that because they do that their families will be protected if they happen to die or if they happen to become disabled or if they decide to retire. Now, for most of the 58 million Americans who are already retired or currently receiving Social Security benefits of some sort, that Social Security benefit is the most important source of income for them. One of the greatest privileges we have as Americans living here in the U.S. is the opportunity to work and earn this Social Security protection for ourselves and for our families.…”