the provisions in this bill will unquestionably improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

That sends a pretty absurd message. SSI's outdated rules make it impossible for beneficiaries to live with dignity.

It underscores the urgency for Congress to act.

Well, how interesting is that, because we do not--so few have defined pension benefits now.

SSI benefits are not enough for seniors and people with disabilities to meet basic needs in the U.S. today.

Now is the time to finally restore this critical part of our Social Security system back to its real intent.

This is the first hearing on SSI in the Senate Finance Committee since 1998.

The Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2021 (S. 2065 and H.R. 3824) has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Sherrod Brown.

They now force millions of disabled and older Americans to live well below the poverty line.

This is the first hearing on SSI in the Senate's Finance Committee since--well, almost before Todd Young was born, since 1998.

Thank you, Senator Casey.

It is just pretty unbelievable. Talk about what a difference it can make having emergency savings when it comes to achieving any kind of economic stability.

There has not been a hearing in Congress specifically about increasing benefits or eligibility since the Reagan administration.

To ensure the Nation's aged, blind, and disabled people would no longer have to subsist on below-poverty level incomes.

I am enormously grateful to Chairman Brown for his leadership in introducing the SSI Restoration Act of 2021.

That's why earlier this year, I introduced the SSI Restoration Act with 20 cosponsors, including Senators Wyden, Warren, Menendez, Casey, Bennet, and Whitehouse from this committee.

They are punished if they try to save for an emergency.

Make no mistake: poverty in America is a policy choice, a policy by us.

I found it fascinating that you said that this penalizes work, it penalizes marriage, and Ms. Romig said it penalizes savings.

a week ago today, we celebrated Labor Day, a day to honor America's workers, a day to honor the labor movement that built this country and built our middle class. It recognizes all Americans working hard every day to support families who…

The Biden-Harris administration is laser-focused on supporting good work in transit, like what we are seeing in Minnesota.

We will ensure safe and efficient transportation for everyone.

We will also build the manufacturing, power production, and maintenance jobs of the future.

This level of Federal funding will touch lives in every corner of the country, including here in Minnesota.

We will be doing major investments in housing. We will lengthen the life -- we will extend the child tax credits.