Earl Blumenauer: “I noted with interest my colleague from Florida talking about Ida May Fuller, the first recipient of a Social Security…”

“I noted with interest my colleague from Florida talking about Ida May Fuller, the first recipient of a Social Security check January 31, 1940. I, too, think that she is a symbol of what this debate is about. The debate is about our commitment to assure that our seniors and disabled and widows and survivors are not subjected to a life of poverty. We do have far fewer workers today than we had for each Social Security recipient. We also have far fewer dependents today. In many households today there are more workers than there are dependents. We are changing, but this was part of a plan that was approved by President Reagan and Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill to change the Social Security program in 1983 to build up a $1.3 trillion surplus that will continue building up in the future. We do not have a problem if we keep the trust in Social Security and use that surplus for what it is used for, rather than spend it on tax cuts for people who do not need it or other frivolous government spending. I strongly urge that we keep the commitment to the Ida May Fullers of the future by using that money for what it was intended.”