Kent Conrad: “I think that, too, is an act of patriotism. It's very much appreciated.”

What is realistic is to deal with these changes in a way that does expand access, that does expand the opportunity for people to participate in a retirement plan at work.

Social Security's financial challenge affects nearly our entire society, and the solutions will require a broad-based approach.

I would just say our Retirement Security Plans and our Retirement Security Clearinghouses are responding to the underlying dynamic that Professor Mead has done such a good job in describing.

It was incredibly important that we not only made Social Security solvent, but we lifted the bottom 20 percent dramatically.