Angie Craig: “it is fair and I believe proper that the Senate of the United States speak to the citizens of this country as to our…”

“it is fair and I believe proper that the Senate of the United States speak to the citizens of this country as to our intent about how we plan to handle Social Security as we move toward a balanced budget. Therefore, I strongly support the Dole motion and encourage all Senators to vote for it because it is the appropriate way to express our will and to direct the Budget Committee in its proceedings once we have sent a balanced budget amendment to the States for their consideration and, hopefully, their ratification. What is important is that it is separate and apart from the amendment itself because it expresses the will of Congress, and it does not clutter up the Constitution the way the Senator from Utah has so clearly spoken. It does not create the massive loophole that the Senator from Nevada is attempting to carve inside the Constitution that would allow future Congresses to drive ever-increasing social programs through the Social Security loophole and, in fact, potentially destroy the Social Security Program. The strength of the Social Security Program has never been the law itself. The strength of the Social Security Program is right here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. It is the obligation of every Senator to honor what we believe to be a commitment to the citizens of this country who pay into a supplemental income program as to our obligation to ensure that program remain sound and stable throughout all time.”