Thomas Foley: “let me first indicate Florida's pride in the gentleman's being in the chair today. We are delighted to see the gentleman…”

“let me first indicate Florida's pride in the gentleman's being in the chair today. We are delighted to see the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) as Chair of the House and Speaker pro tempore. We are also delighted to have a conversation today in calm and measured tones about an issue that is vitally, vitally important, to every American. That topic is Social Security. Typically, when we mention Social Security, people 65 and older are all ears and stay tuned to the debate. What we hope to do today is spend some time on this very valuable program, this important program, this safety net, if you will, for all Americans 65 and above and those yet to reach that wonderful age. We would also like to put to rest some of the demagoguery relative to this issue. We find so often that people, particularly the minority party, regrettably, have sought to use Social Security as a political issue to try and divide people and suggest that they had better vote for their side if they want to see Social Security preserved. Let me start with a personal anecdote, if you will. My grandmother came from Poland. She came to the United States of America. Her husband died, and she raised my mother and her sister on her own. She was a maid in the Travelodge Motel, and she cleaned 28 rooms a day. It was a job she was proud of, and a job she did well. But in her later years, the one thing was certain, she depended desperately on that Social Security check, and she depended on Medicare.”