Sherrod Brown: “And I will be brief. Social Security, we know, is a bedrock of our middle class. It is retirement security that…”

“And I will be brief. Social Security, we know, is a bedrock of our middle class. It is retirement security that Americans pay into and earn over a lifetime. You pay in for 40 quarters. You pay in for, essentially, 10 years. You have earned it. It should be there when you retire. These restrictions right now, though, prevent some 3 million Americans--nearly 250,000 people in my State alone, many of whom are law enforcement, first responders, teachers, schoolbus drivers, school cafeteria workers, public servants--it means that many will not get their full Social Security benefit. It makes no sense. These workers serve the public. They protect our communities. They teach our kids. They pay into Social Security just like everyone else. When we did a hearing a few months ago at a fire station in Columbus, I met Barbara Ward. She drives a special needs bus for Fairland Local Schools in, I believe, Lawrence County, on the Ohio River. She drives 200 miles a day. She has done this for 40 years. She is in her seventies. Her mom was the first female busdriver hired in that district. Her husband served our country in the Navy Seabees, building our naval bases, and paying into Social Security with every paycheck. After he passed away 10 years ago, Barb started receiving his Social Security survivors benefits, until Barb retired with her school pension, when her Social Security benefit dropped from $2,100 a month to 500 a month. Again, he earned this. This wasn't charity.…”