Denouncing Violence Against Women and Supporting Vital Social Security Benefits for Women

DENOUNCING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SUPPORTING VITAL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR WOMEN -- (House of Representatives - March 10, 2005)

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rose earlier this week to again join with my colleagues to announce our mutual stand against violence against women. Sexual assault, violence against women takes away their dignity and their human dignity; and all of us demand that kind of respect.

So as I stand here today, I ask America as well to recognize the negative impact that the present posture on Social Security will have on America's women. Because many of them are head of household, many of them demand and depend upon the requirement or the retirement benefits that come through the Social Security program. Social Security privatization, as planned now, will cost more than $4 trillion in the first 20 years, according to independent experts. There is no mention of such cost in the pending budget.

The Republican plan undermines retirement security for all Americans by cutting guaranteed benefits by more than 40 percent. In fact, the average retiree would lose $152,000 in benefits under the privatization plan. Women benefit from the survivors benefit, but many times they have lost their spouse.

Let us not take away the human dignity from American women. Let us stand against violence and stand for the sovereignty of Social Security.

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