SOCIAL SECURITY -- (House of Representatives - June 22, 2005)
(Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the President's Social Security plan. Social Security represents the values of hardworking communities that Americans in small towns across this country hold dear. It is the fulfillment of our Nation's promise that if you work hard and follow the rules, you will be rewarded for your lifetime of work with a secure retirement.
Today, Social Security keeps 50 percent of seniors out of poverty. No politicians should be allowed to take away the retirement benefits that workers in rural America have earned through Social Security. As a part-time farmer myself, I know how much rural families rely on Social Security. Farm families have tight budgets, even in good years, and most do not have access to employer retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans. Instead of standing up for our rural communities and values, the President's Social Security plan cuts benefits and jeopardizes the most important safety net in rural areas for retirees, survivors and the disabled.
All of rural America needs to read the fine print on President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. Protecting the promise of Social Security is important to every worker, to every generation and to every family, especially to rural America.
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