Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding time. It is so good to be here with you, to have this discussion about Social Security, the importance of this safety net to so many Americans, individuals throughout this country, but especially those who need it most. I'm going to give you some numbers. We have 17,036 retirees; 1,331 children; spouses, widows, disabled workers. Those are the people in my district, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, who receive Social Security benefits--almost 20 percent of our population. On average, these individuals receive $1,230 per month in benefits. That doesn't seem like a lot to so many Americans. Yet, for many recipients, they are dependent on those Social Security benefits to survive. Social Security payments put food on the table, keep roofs overhead, furnish medication. Indeed, for about half of senior beneficiaries, Social Security provides the majority of their income. Social Security is even more important, as you have stated, for marginalized communities, particularly women and Black Americans. Without Social Security, 43 percent of older women would be living in poverty. In 2014, 45 percent of all Black senior beneficiaries relied on Social Security for all or nearly all of their income. Even in light of these details, we all know the Social Security system today is inadequate. The American people know it, my constituents know it, and I suspect my colleagues across the aisle are very much aware of that.…”