The fact is the President, along with the Democrats and Republicans, have agreed to Social Security's funding levels.

I was once a homebuilder, so I understand the important role housing plays in our economy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for holding this important hearing on tax reform and residential real estate.

As a builder, we never include that as part of our computation.

I very much enjoyed working with the Vice Chair, the gentleman from New Jersey, Bill Pascrell, and we had our fill of meetings on real estate.

Americans deserve action to protect and preserve Social Security, and the inclusion of Chained CPI in the President's budget is a welcome acknowledgement that we must take action to shore up the program for future generations.

Mr. Chairman, I am looking forward to hearing the testimony because there is nothing more important than the security of Social Security.

Americans deserve a Social Security program they and their children and grandchildren can count on.

We made promises to people years ago that we cannot keep today and then we try to soft soap it and really, I wish policy were the driving force in this town and not politics.

We know we have to do something to protect Social Security long term, and we will do that.

But for innovation to succeed, there must be adequate capital to mature these inventions from the lab to market.