Bill Nelson: “I have just returned from a weekend in three different parts of my State and of the State of the Presiding Officer. I…”

“I have just returned from a weekend in three different parts of my State and of the State of the Presiding Officer. I was conferring with many of our constituents regarding what is anticipated to be the President's proposal that he will give in his speech tomorrow night regarding Social Security. Of course, this is of enormous importance to us, not only in America but especially in Florida because of the high percentage of our population who are senior citizens. In fact, it is 3 million Floridians, retirees, survivors, and people with disabilities who depend on monthly Social Security benefits. Social Security provides a guaranteed benefit, and it helps retirees live independently and with dignity. It is also the sole source of income for one-fifth of our Nation's seniors. In this day and age when you read daily in the newspaper about employer pensions becoming scarce, Social Security provides a lifeline to retirees such as Lucille Solana, a 57-year-old retiree from Davie in Broward County. She worked for United Airlines for nearly 36 years and retired when the company's bankruptcy cut her pay and her office in Miami was closed. She had done what she was supposed to do. She followed the rule of savings: one-third personal savings, one-third corporate pension, and one-third Social Security for her retirement. But it hasn't all gone according to plan. United Airlines is going to terminate her pension, and her personal savings have suffered with the market.”