February 19, 1985 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2605 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS $6 billion in each of the next three years. ing the COLA. He was very clear on this, These cuts continue. The cuts in the 1983 even after the campaign. legislation amounted, on average, to a re­ The American people agree with this HON. MEL LEVINE duction of 2lf2 percent in benefits over the OF CALIFORNIA policy. For example, in a Washington Post/ lifetime of both present and future benefici­ ABC poll conducted Jan. 11 to 16, only 5 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES aries. percent said Social Security should be cut to Tuesday, February 19, 1985 The 1983 cuts were part of an agreement reduce the budget deficit, as compared with struck among many diverse interests in 46 percent who said military spending e Mr. LEVINE of California. Mr. order to bring the separately financed old­ Speaker, during the November cam­ age, survivors and disability insurance sys­ should be cut. paigns, candidates from both parties tems <OASDI> into balance. Employers, em­ Nevertheless, many in Congress have promised not to cut benefits to Social ployees, the self-employed and the general shown support for a COLA cut or freeze. Security recipients. Yet, now that the taxpayer all made some sacrifices. To now Some of them seem to have the mistaken votes have been cast, and the election impose additional sacrifice on one group, notion that Social Security, because it has beneficiaries, breaks that agreement. It no needs test, is somehow a "middle-class season has ended, the President and would seem particularly unfair since OASDI program." Social Security is a universal pro­ legislative leaders are discussing the is both adequately and separately financed gram and, of course, does cover the middle possibility of a freeze on cost of living and is not contributing one cent to the defi­ class, but it is also our most effective anti­ increases for Social Security recipi­ cit. poverty program. ents. Let me review the recent history: If there were no Social Security, there It seems that many of those who All during 1981 and 1982, Social Security would be about 3.5 elderly poor persons for had so earnestly assured our senior beneficiaries-36 million elderly retired per­ everyone now below the poverty level. The citizens that they would never support sons, totally disabled people, widows and overwhelming majority of beneficiaries have any reductions in benefits have motherless and fatherless children-were low incomes. Social Security supplies more changed their minds. I have not. terrorized by the fear that their benefits than half the income of two-thirds of its would stop or be reduced. There were I have always opposed efforts to almost daily reports of Social Security over-65 beneficiaries. About one-third get reduce Social Security benefits and "bankruptcy." Under this daily pounding, more than 90 percent of their income from will continue to do so. It is a tragedy not only beneficiaries, but a high proportion Social Security. Yet, the average benefit that whenever the need arises to cut of the 120 million contributors to the pro­ payment is less than $450 a month. If the government spending policy makers gram became convinced that they would increase in the Consumer Price Index for first turn to programs like Social Secu­ never receive their benefits. next year is 4 percent, a freeze would cost rity which benefit the elderly and the As a consequence of the great public con­ the average beneficiary $18 a month; if 5 poor. cern, a National Commission on Social Secu­ percent, $22.50. These amounts may sound I have thousands of senior citizens in rity Reform was appointed jointly by the small to most of us, but to people largely de­ president and the Republican and Demo­ pendent on Social Security, these cuts can my district whose sole source of cratic leadership of Congress. After a year mean choosing between food and medicine. income are their Social Security bene­ of study, the commission presented a set of An additional 500,000 people would be fits. Without these benefits, they will recommendations, which were endorsed by pushed below the government's rock-bottom be unable to pay their rent, clothe 12 of its 15 members. These recommenda­ measure of dire poverty if their purchasing themselves, and buy food. tions were in turn endorsed by the presi­ power were cut by a COLA freeze. We are a wealthy society. The least dent, the Republican leadership in the Most fundamentally, the main reason for we can do is provide a decent standard Senate and the Democratic leadership in not tampering with the COLA is that keep­ of living to those people who have the House and became the basis for the ing benefits up to date with the full cost-of­ worked throughout their lives and 1983 Amendments. These amendments have living makes sense, and not just for the restored financial integrity to OASDI as far poor. It makes sense to decide on the proper have contributed so much to our socie­ as the eye can see. <Medicare is another ty. story and probably faces financial problems level of benefits that people should get at An insightful article recently ap­ within about 10 years.) the time of first receipt, then to maintain the purchasing power of that benefit. It peared in the Washington Post by Because of the 1983 Amendments, Social Robert M. Ball, a former U.S. Commis­ Security is already helping to reduce the doesn't make sense to provide a given level sioner of Social Security and a deficit in the consolidated budget and will of benefits at the time of retirement or total member of the National Commission do so for a long time. In order to build up disability, or to survivors on the death of a reserves, Social Security, under present law, wage earner, and then let inflation cut the on Social Security Reform on this sub­ value of those benefits so that people in ject. In his article he argues eloquent­ will be taking in more than it pays out for several decades. This, of course, helps over­ their seventies or eighties, for example, ly in favor of providing a cost of living all government financing. Social Security have less to live on than when they first increase for Social Security recipients. funds that are not needed for the payment started to get benefits. I would like to share it with my col­ of benefits are lent to the government at in­ The 1983 amendments to the Social Secu­ leagues. I hope it will help convince terest. Thus other activities can be partially rity Act restored fiscal solvency to Social Se­ every member of this body to oppose financed by borrowing from Social Security, curity and, as the amendments are under­ any budget which does not contain without the government's going into the fi­ stood, will reassure people that their bene­ cost of living increases for Social Secu­ nancial markets and competing with private fits are safe. That is, if we don't start tam­ rity recipients. industry. Social Security is doing more than pering with the system for purposes that its share now, and benefits should not be re­ have nothing to do with Social Security. SOCIAL SECURITY: LEAVE THE COLA ALONE duced because of an apparent unwillingness <By Robert M. Ball) After the turmoil of 1981 and 1982, Social to raise the taxes necessary to pay for other Security is now doing just fine. Let's keep it Skipping or cutting the cost-of-living ad­ spending. that way.e justment <COLA> for Social Security is both The COLA is not something extra but an unwise and unfair. Although many seem to integral part of Social Security. The law have forgotten, the Social Security COLA provides that Social Security should be in­ was permanently cut in the 1983 legislation. flation proof, and Social Security financing The date of payment was moved from July is designed to pay for it. People are counting to January, and as a result, Social Security on it. The president has reinforced the benefits were cut approximately $5 billion promise in the law by an unequivocal pledge in 1984 and again in 1985, and will be cut by not to cut Social Security protection, includ- e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 2606 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 19, 1985 THE IWO JIMA MEMORIAL Cpl. Willard T. McGuire served with the health risks associated with ciga­ the 822d Tank Destroyer Battalion in rette smoking are well known. Howev­ HON. BRUCE A. MORRISON the European campaign. On April, 16, er, it is also important that we ac­ OF CONNECTICUT 1945, enemy fire struck Corporal knowledge the important efforts IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES McGuire's tank near Munich, Germa­ which have been made by individuals ny. Corporal McGuire and three who have become involved in helping Tuesday, February 19, 1985 others were able to get out of the tank smokers to quit smoking. e Mr. MORRISON of Connecticut. which was nonfunctional, and ran Katherine J. McMonagle has con­ Mr. Speaker, today marks a critical through enemy fire, taking cover in a sistently demonstrated her concern for time in our Nation's history. Forty nearby ditch. One soldier remained in the health and well-being of others. years ago today, on February 19, 1945, the tank, which had begun to burn. She is a health sciences instructor at American Marine forces, with Army Corporal McGuire gallantly returned North High School in North St.