John Larson

For the Michiganders, the seniors that I represent barely getting by on their Social Security check, the answer to the long-term solvency of Social Security is not to increase the retirement age, not to cut benefits.

We do know that the Republican Study Committee... recently released their budget plan for 2025.

Democrats on this committee are focused on delivering on that promise.

When you work hard, you play by the rules, you ought to be able to retire with dignity.

It is long overdue to stop all of the dialogue and how about vote.

The American public knows for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits.

What Congress needs to do is something the public expects from us: vote.

Congress has not done its job in over 50 years.

I think if we could balance that out to make it a little bit fairer for everybody, we would find some revenue to extend the livelihood of the Social Security trust fund.

It is our generation who is benefiting from Social Security that needs to make sure that the next generations have the same benefits that we have.

We have to do it in a way that recognizes the original intent of Social Security, an insurance program to give Americans, after a lifetime of service and contribution to their communities and their Nation, a dignified and secure retirement.

Not only is it true, but I think what the general public needs to understand, and as you point out, Mr. Cartwright, the saying goes like this: Well, people are living longer, so, therefore, because they are living longer, what we ought to…

I want to point out to Speaker Johnson that he has 158,000 Social Security recipients in his district, and in Louisiana, they receive $233 million in monthly benefits. Think about what that does for economic development for those people…

I thank the gentleman from Colorado, our esteemed leader, for his contribution. I would point out as well that the repeal of WEP and GPO, which directly impacts police officers and firefighters, is contained within our proposal. It needs a…

I commend President Biden for not only saying that we want to protect Social Security, but we want to expand its benefits.

People making over $400,000 ought to be paying what people making 35, 50, 75, 100,000 are paying.

I especially want to focus on what you have repeatedly said, that the President... is not going to raise taxes on anybody who is making under 400,000.

It is Congress's inability to take action and do the right thing, including tax cuts for 23 million Americans...

That is why, of course, we were very much alarmed when this committee voted to cut 80 billion out of funding to the IRS.

I think it underscores what Martin Luther King would say is the fierce urgency of now and acting upon this.

For 40 percent of all Americans on Social Security the only benefit that they receive is Social Security, and that is why the gentleman's point is so well taken. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lieu).

I thank the gentlewoman for her continued input and support over the last several decades. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), who has been key as an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act…

We have 20 minutes remaining, and we have about 12 people who are sitting here, so I hope our colleagues are mindful of that. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who has more than 98,000 Social Security…

I thank the gentleman from Connecticut. I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the female dean of the United States Congress, who has more than 143,000 Social Security recipients in her district and has been a tireless fighter…