I rise today in strong support of the PACT legislation that we are now considering. As a former chair and longtime member of the Senate Veterans' Committee, one of my highest priorities is to make certain that every veteran in this…

Social Security today is not on the line to go broke.

The time to expand Social Security is now.

I have just introduced legislation to expand Social Security benefits by $200 a month and to fully fund Social Security for the next 75 years by demanding that Americans who make more than $250,000 a year pay their fair share of taxes.

If you ask the American people, 'Should we ask the wealthiest in our country to contribute more into the Social Security Trust Fund?' the answer is a loud, 'Yes.'

Expanding Social Security is the answer.

It is not like a benefit cut.

Poll after poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans, Republicans as well as Democrats and independents, believe that Social Security is more important than ever.

I think to a larger degree, Congress is beholden to powerful special interests and not the needs of ordinary Americans.

SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY: EXPANDING BENEFITS AND DEMANDING THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OR CUTTING BENEFITS AND INCREASING RETIREMENT ANXIETY

people are not getting the kind of help and responses from the Social Security Administration that they need.

We need to ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share.

If you ask the American people, 'Should we cut Social Security benefits, raise the retirement age?' there is a very loud, 'No.'

We spend twice as much per capita as any other country.

Raising the retirement age to 70 is just a 21 percent benefit cut.

there is, in fact, a strong philosophical difference between many of us in the Democratic caucus and many in the Republican caucus, as to the best way forward with regard to Social Security.

The legislation is profoundly wise, though I believe benefits should be expanded more, and multi-millionaires and billionaires be required to pay more.

I think we must expand Social Security so that every American can retire with dignity, the dignity that they have earned through their years and years of hard work.

Further and importantly under this bill, Social Security benefits would be increased by $2,400 a year for both new and existing recipients.

Should we increase benefits for Social Security? the answer is a yes, as well.

This legislation will fully fund Social Security for the next 75 years and expand benefits for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

I think it makes sense to lift that tax cap.

Social Security is, I think, as everybody knows, one of the most popular and successful government programs in the history of our nation.

What is more important is when we start listening to the American people and do what they want, not listen to powerful special interests.

Our job is to expand Social Security so that everyone in America can retire with the dignity that he or she deserves.