John Larson

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I regrettably missed votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 125, NAY on Roll Call No. 126, and NO on Roll Call No. 127.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Town & County Club in the historic Asylum Hill neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut. Over its storied 100-year history, the club has grown into the premier location for members to enjoy organized social, intellectual, and artistic gatherings. On May 21, 1925, just five years after the 19th Amendment guaranteed women's suffrage, 400 women founded the Town & County Club as Hartford's first private women's club. The club's first President, Miss Anne Eliot Trumbull, helped draft their Articles of Association. The Articles state that the club was formed with the purposes of ``creating an organized center for women's work, thought and action; advancing the interests of women, promoting science, literature, and art; providing an accessible place of meeting for its members, promoting social intercourse by such means as the members of the corporation shall deem expedient and proper for that purpose, and for acquiring and maintaining and club house and grounds.'' The pioneering women who founded the Town & County Club at a time when membership at most private clubs was exclusive to men created an organization worthy of its storied 100-year history. It is my honor to celebrate the Town & County Club of Hartford, Connecticut.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the Nation's number one antipoverty program for children. Mr. Speaker, as you know, I am talking about Social Security. More alarming, Mr. Speaker, is that it has been more than 50 years since Congress has enhanced Social Security for the citizens of this great country. What does that mean? That means that more than 70 million Social Security recipients have not seen an enhancement to Social Security since Richard Nixon was President of the United States. I applaud Leader Hakeem Jeffries for putting together a plan and for presenting something to the American people that stands in stark contrast to nothing being put forward. It doesn't bother me so much that Republicans aren't putting any proposals forward, but they would deny a hearing on Social Security and a vote on a measure that Congress hasn't addressed in more than 50 years. Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are more than 70-plus million Social Security recipients. Ten million baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security and wonder why Congress hasn't acted. Mr. Speaker, for more than 5 million of our fellow Americans who have paid into this system all their lives, they get below-poverty-level checks from their government because Congress hasn't acted. Mr. Speaker, for more than 35 million people, this is the only pension they will receive, and Congress hasn't responded. Again, I applaud Mr. Jeffries for saying, yes, what we need is an across-the-board increase for everyone on Social Security. As Mr. Jeffries has laid out, we need to repeal the provision to have people who continue to work after they retire and not have their Social Security taxed. That is part of the Democratic plan, along with making sure that no one can retire into poverty and lifting the more than 5 million people who get below-poverty-level checks out of poverty. Mr. Speaker, I know you know this. In Illinois' 12th Congressional District, there are more than 179,000 Social Security recipients, and more than 131,000 of them are retirees. Mr. Speaker, 21,000-plus are disabled. There are 11,000-plus widows; 4,000-plus spouses; and 10,000- plus children who haven't seen an increase in more than 50 years. It is long overdue for Congress to take action. I plead with you, Mr. Speaker, to join us and to encourage Republican leadership minimally to have a hearing on this. If you have a better plan, Mr. Speaker, by all means, put it forward. At least let the plan that Hakeem Jeffries has put forward have a vote. If my colleagues disagree with it, that is fine. It is America. It is a democracy. Vote against it. Why shouldn't Congress vote on making sure that Illinois' 12th Congressional District sees an increase they haven't seen in more than 50 years, as well as the First Congressional District in the State of Connecticut and all 535 congressional districts where individuals have not seen an increase, especially during these inflationary times. For a party that used to pride itself on entrepreneurialism and capitalism, imagine this is the safety net for capitalism and entrepreneurialism. Where is the money spent in Illinois' 12th Congressional District? It is put right back in the local economy to the stores, the pharmacies, et cetera.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise to first and foremost submit an article by--I hope everyone gets to read it. We will be circulating it to all Members--about the Trump plan to go after our university system and destroy the research that goes on at our universities and massive cuts. As Mr. Zakaria points out, this would decimate our economy, and I think every Member of Congress needs to know. Madam Speaker, I also heard Representative John Kasich on television, just before I came here, talking about how Democrats don't have a plan; they don't have a plan that they are going to utilize. I have great respect for John, but I will say yes, under Hakeem Jeffries, we do have a plan, especially as it relates to Social Security. Our colleagues on the other side do not have a plan, or the plan that they have proposed is to cut benefits to Social Security. Madam Speaker, I don't know if you realize how many Social Security recipients you have in your district, but there are over 170,000 of them, including 134,000 retirees, including 18,000 disabled workers, 8,000 widows, 3,000 spouses, and 9,000 children. Madam Speaker, here is the most important thing. Most Members of Congress don't realize this. Do you know how much money comes into your district monthly to those recipients? That is $318 million that Mr. Trump and Republican leadership want to cut. A 20 percent cut across the board to Social Security would decimate people across all districts, including Iowa and Connecticut and every other district. We have a plan. Here is our plan. Social Security--and the American people, especially the people in our audience today ought to understand--hasn't been enhanced by Congress since 1971. Richard Nixon was President of the United States. There are more than 70 million Americans who rely on Social Security. Of those 70 million, for over 30 million of them, this is the only retirement benefit that they have. Madam Speaker, we want to make sure that there is an across-the-board increase. Under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, that is what you will see, an across-the-board increase, a tax cut proposal for people who have to work out of necessity who would end up having to pay taxes on their Social Security. We pay for it to make sure that it doesn't impact the trust fund. We also pay for the repeal of WEP and GPO because that is vitally important as well. We also make sure that there is no longer a waiting period for disability where we see that so many people have died waiting to receive their disability payment. It is long overdue for the number one antipoverty program for the elderly and for children of this country. More disability goes out to veterans from Social Security than goes out from the VA. Congress needs to act. I would hope it would be bipartisan, but we can't even get a hearing, let alone pass a bill. What is there to be afraid of? Every constituent listening to this ought to demand of their Member of Congress--if you disagree, if you have got a better plan, for God's sake, put it forward. How much longer do the American people have to wait to receive the benefits that they paid for? This is an earned benefit. This is no entitlement like the other side calls it. People paid for it, and you can check it out right on your paycheck. It says FICA, Federal insurance contribution. Whose? Yours. You have paid for this benefit. Your government, your Congress, has let you down. They have not addressed this since 1971. It is long overdue that we not only address this but enhance this so that Americans get what they richly deserve, especially those in Iowa.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to discuss Social Security today, the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children, as well. Mr. Speaker, it is dismaying to see the President's proposal and Elon Musk's proposal to cut Social Security. Let's be clear about it. That is exactly what this administration is doing when they are taking SSA and diminishing its field forces and closing regional offices. In the Speaker's district, there are over 160,000 recipients who receive Social Security benefits. What most Members don't realize is that also means $291 million that comes into the Speaker's district every month. Mr. Speaker, that hasn't been changed since 1971. Have a few things changed since 1971? It is long overdue that Congress not only protects Social Security, the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and children but expands it because it hasn't been expanded since 1971. That is shameful and long overdue. Instead, Elon Musk is going about and talking about how he is going to cut programs and singling out Social Security, Medicare, and national defense. Yet, the only thing he is really talking about is Social Security. Mr. Speaker, that is because, of those three programs, Social Security is the only one that has $2.7 trillion in its trust fund. That is the people's money. That is what every single American has put into that program. Mr. Speaker, it is not an entitlement. It is an earned benefit. The actions of Elon Musk and the President and, until this body speaks out and up, the actions of the Republican-controlled House and Senate is to go along with what Elon Musk and President Trump are providing. That means a direct cut to the Speaker's district and all of the other 434 districts and all of the individuals who rely on Social Security. It is a shame that, in the wealthiest Nation in the world, over 5 million of our fellow Americans who paid into the insurance program get below-poverty-level checks from the wealthiest government and the wealthiest Nation in the world simply because Congress hasn't acted. It is equally shameful that not since 1971 have any of these programs been enhanced. Even last December, when teachers and firefighters and police officers were finally included, it was not paid for. Step up, pay for, and fund Social Security.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, first and foremost, to talk about the incredible achievement of Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team, the winningest program in the Nation's history. They performed remarkably well throughout the tournament, and it is just a great honor and a tribute for the entire Connecticut delegation to recognize this outstanding achievement. Typical of Geno Auriemma, what he did before he accepted the award or said anything, he congratulated South Carolina and their coach and their achievements and the incredible season that they had, as well. It is nice in athletics and sports to still see the class rings and the recognition of contributions of student athletes. Watching the NCAA tournament and watching both men's and women's collegiate athletes compete, it reminds us of just how great of a nation we live in. In this great Nation, I am equally proud to recognize the number one program of all time is that of the University of Connecticut, led by Coach Geno Auriemma. Social Security

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to celebrate the remarkable achievements of East Hartford's own Patrick Agyemang, who recently joined the U.S. Men's National Team. From being named a 2017 All-Conference soccer player while at East Hartford High School, to playing soccer for my alma mater, Eastern Connecticut State University, to his new position on the USMNT, Patrick's hometown has watched with pride as he represents the best of our community. The following article by Steven Goff, originally published in The Washington Post and republished in our local paper, The East Hartford Gazette, encapsulates Patrick's journey from spectator to soccer star: Patrick Agyemang was 9 when he found his seat at Rentschler Field in East Hartford to watch the U.S. men's national soccer team play one of its final tune-ups for the 2010 World Cup. He lived a few minutes from the stadium in a working-class home the family called ``the Headquarters''--the place where he and his two brothers, parents and friends enjoyed most of their time together. With his participation and passion in the sport swelling, Patrick couldn't wait for kickoff against the Czech Republic. He stared out and saw Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and other stars pass through the players' tunnel and in that moment tried seeing himself someday making that walk in U.S. colors. ``It's funny, because I still kind of remember how I felt,'' he said Tuesday. ``It was a sense of excitement, and I was like: `This is where I want to be. I don't know how, but I would love to be on that field, to play for the country and be able to know that my parents [someday] could come to this game and watch me.' '' Almost 15 years have passed, and Agyemang is in a U.S. uniform--not preparing for a World Cup but making gains with the national team after climbing the ladder as a relative unknown from NCAA Division III to Division I, to MLS's developmental league, then to MLS with Charlotte FC, where last year he made the league minimum ($71,401). In his first appearance for the national program at any level, Agyemang started and scored the second U.S. goal Saturday during a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Agyemang (pronounced Aaw-jee-mawn) earned his place this month after scoring a team best 10 goals in MLS last year. On Saturday, the 24-year-old forward was among eight players to make their U.S. debut. ``There was a level of uncertainty, just because I've never been in an environment like this,'' Agyemang said of his first camp. ``I just wanted to come in being myself, completely myself, and, showing it on and off the field. I think I was able to do that, but the guys and the coaching staff made it way more easy than I expected and just made it an experience I won't forget.'' Patrick Agyemang had never been invited to a U.S. camp at any level until this month. Agile and 6-foot-4, Agyemang displayed qualities in the open field and on set pieces Saturday. He drew a penalty kick less than two minutes into the match--Matko Miljevic failed to convert--and proved dangerous on the counterattack. ``I think he can be very, very, very useful,'' Pochettino said. ``He's still young, still has room to improve. . . . I am so happy with him. His performance was really good. He's capable to add [something] different to the team that sometimes we were missing a little bit. It's a very good alternative.'' Over the years, the U.S. program has employed tall center backs and goalkeepers but few towering forwards. Agyemang sprouted five inches before his junior year in high school and kept growing. ``He's apparently 6-4, but I think he's like 6-6,'' said U.S. left back DeJuan Jones, who has played against Agyemang in MLS. ``He's got the Height--tough to mark on corners, for sure--and then he's very quick and agile, and his holdup play is nice as well. It's nice to be on his team for once. One to watch out for.'' Agyemang's parents emigrated from Ghana and juggled multiple jobs while raising three children. Soccer was central to their upbringing with neighborhood games, school teams and youth leagues. During World Cups, family and friends gathered to watch the Black Stars, Ghana's national team. In 2006, 2010 and 2014, the United States and Ghana faced each other at the World Cup, with the Black Stars winning the first two. ``I remember 2010 I was actually at one of my teammates' house,'' Agyemang said. ``We were having a pool party. All the parents were in the living room. Whoever scores, they'll scream, then the other group will scream. It was a lot because it was a diverse place. I think I was rooting for both.'' Despite excelling for his high school and club, he did not receive any offers from NCAA Division I or II programs. He landed at Eastern Connecticut State. Agyemang was the league's rookie of the year.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here. This morning, I rise to talk about social security, the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children. Mr. Speaker, I know it comes as no surprise to you that Social Security has not been enhanced since 1971. Richard Nixon was President of the United States then. Congress has done nothing to improve the situation of so many people who desperately need it. There are more than 70 million Social Security recipients in the United States, and 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. Yet, Elon Musk is setting about to dismantle the Social Security Administration by cutting regional offices. Whether it is Illinois or Connecticut, we need these regional offices. He is cutting off the phone services, getting rid of the inspectors general, doing so to the program that is most effectively administrated in the Federal Government. No other agency, public or private, provides insurance for more than 70 million people with administrative costs that are under 1 percent. It delivers and has never missed a payment, not a pension payment, not a disability payment, not a spousal payment, not a dependent child payment. In fact, Mr. Speaker, in your district you have approximately 180,000 Social Security recipients, 130,000-plus retirees, 21,000-plus disabled, 11,800 widows, 4,500 spouses, and over 10,000 children who rely on Social Security. Mr. Musk is out to dismantle and privatize this. Some of the American people may have been born at night but not last night, with respect to what Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump are up to: On one hand, they say they will not cut social security. In the next breath, Larry Kudlow or CNN say, no, we have to privatize these systems because that is where we are going to find the $2 trillion that Mr. Trump has asked us to find. What a coincidence that in the Social Security trust fund, the trust fund that more than 180,000 people in your district have paid into, is $2.7 trillion, and has never missed a payment but hasn't been expanded since 1971. Do you think those 10,000 baby boomers a day are going to call your office, my office, every Member of Congress' office? You bet they are, and they should because Congress has done nothing. In the face of this, Mr. Trump is now trying to privatize Social Security, first, by gutting it from the inside and not providing the services to the public that it desperately needs and then indicating this system doesn't work. So I guess we are going to have to grab that $2.7 trillion and privatize that. That will be a great benefit for the private sector. That would not help out the day-to-day workforce that relies on it and needs it and is depending on you, Mr. Speaker, and me and all the Members of this body. You owe it to your constituents to look them in the eye and tell them what your plan is. We have a plan to expand Social Security. You imagine, there are 5 million Americans, mostly women, who get below-poverty-level checks from the wealthiest States in the Nation, having paid in with the guarantee and trust from their government that they would have a pension they could retire on. Instead, they get below-poverty-level checks because of Congress' inaction. Rise up America. Contact your Members of Congress.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the body with regard to Social Security and the lack of congressional action. It might interest people in the audience to know, Mr. Speaker, that it has been over 50 years since Congress has enhanced Social Security on behalf of its recipients. That is why I have introduced legislation specifically to address this issue. Yet, Mr. Speaker, at the same time, we see that Mr. Musk has been charged by the President of the United States to cut $2 trillion from the budget. Mr. Musk has made no bones about the fact that he plans to privatize Social Security and Medicare, amongst others. Social Security, Medicare, and defense, as a number of people in the audience knows, makes up more than 70 percent of the budget. He has been instructed to find $2 trillion. Coincidentally, that is just about how much Trump's tax cut for the wealthiest 1 percent is, $2 trillion. Where will it come from, Mr. Speaker? Obviously, he has his designs on Social Security, the only one of those entities--defense, Medicare, and Medicaid--that has a trust fund, a trust fund of $2.7 trillion of hardworking people's money. It might surprise you, Mr. Speaker, to know that, in your district, you have over 183,000 Social Security recipients, over 13,000 who are disabled, 7,000-plus children, 8,000 widows, and 4,000 spouses. Here is the critical thing: Republicans should wake up in this time of inflation. Your district and every district on average, by the way, receives more than $200 million monthly for its Social Security recipients. Your district, Mr. Speaker, receives $354 million. That hasn't been changed since 1971. People in America should be outraged by the fact that Congress has not fulfilled its responsibility to act on behalf of its citizens. Social Security is the number one insurance program in the country, serving over 70 million people. Mr. Speaker, 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and Congress continues to ignore them and ignore their needs. Shamefully, more than 5 million of our fellow Americans get below- poverty-level checks from the wealthiest Nation in the world and the most successful insurance program because of congressional inaction. Most of those 5 million are women, and among those, most of them are women of color. People have been taxed on their Social Security when they continue to work after retirement, and that is false, as well. I have had a proposal, Mr. Speaker, to correct all of that, to change it, and, by the way, pay for it. How do we do that, Mr. Speaker? Very simple: We lift the cap on people who pay nothing or very little or are through paying the first day and second day of January. Lifting the cap on over 400,000 people, as President Biden proposed, will provide us the benefits and solvency that Social Security needs. Why is it that hardworking people in this gallery should pay into a system all their lives and get a benefit, yet billionaires can be excluded and don't have to pay in the same amount or some totally circumvent the law altogether and pay nothing? It is long overdue, Mr. Speaker, don't you agree, for a vote to take place. For all the citizens in your district, the more than $300 million that comes in, imagine what that does to the local economy in your district, how it will help out the local grocery store, the pharmacy, and, most importantly, the individual families in that region. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Republicans stand up to join us in enhancing Social Security, not cutting it.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to recognize Salvatore Rizza, a prime example of an Italian immigrant who came to this country, started his own business, married the woman of his dreams, raised three amazing daughters, and at the age of 90 is still going strong and contributing to the country he loves. Born in Siracusa, Italy, to Antonio and Nancy Rizza, husband to his beloved Josephine, and father of Nancy Larson, Susan Mahoney, and Cynthia Campbell, Sal's story is an example of the rich contributions immigrants make to our communities, our culture, and our Nation. Sal is the former owner and operator of the S & G restaurant in Hartford and was a star soccer player. He was the captain of the Italian-American Stars Soccer team that won the 1967 amateur soccer championship and was later inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018. And while he himself never had the privilege of a college education, Sal worked hard and sacrificed to make sure all three of his daughters did. It is in tribute to Sal and his accomplishments--his love of family, his Italian heritage, his community, his state, and the Nation he loves. On behalf of his daughter, Nancy, his grandson, Matthew, his granddaughter, Arianna, and his son-in-law, Tim, it is a privilege to honor this remarkable man--another great story in American history.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children. That is, of course, Social Security. Last night, in his state of the Union and over the weekend, the President and Elon Musk referred to Social Security as a scam and a Ponzi scheme. I don't believe the people who receive those benefits believe that Social Security is a scam. It is the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly. Since its inception in 1935, it has never missed a payment. It is, for capitalism and entrepreneurialism, our safety net. Yet, Mr. Speaker, as you know, Congress has not acted on enhancing Social Security in more than 50 years. Richard Nixon was the President of the United States the last time Congress, whose responsibility it is, did anything to extend benefits. That includes a COLA that is out of place, as AARP indicates, as well as tax cuts for people who continue to have to work after they retire and then have their Social Security double taxed. It also applies for an across-the-board increase for all of our citizens who haven't seen that since 1971. Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are 10,000 baby boomers a day that become eligible for Social Security, and that is why it is so important. In your district in Illinois, Mr. Speaker, there are 173,000 Social Security recipients: 135,000 of them are retired; 14,900 are disabled; 9,855 are widows; 4,438 spouses; and more than 8,000 children, but that is not the most important thing, even though all these details are important, but the Sixth District in Illinois receives $323 million monthly. Where does that money go? That money goes to the recipients that I just listed. Where do they spend that money? They spend that money right back in Illinois' Sixth District. Yet Congress hasn't done anything to enhance or extend the program in over 50 years. Mr. Speaker, we are long overdue for a vote. We have got a plan that both expands Social Security across the board, makes sure that people who continue to work don't pay taxes on their Social Security, and make sure that we have a COLA that works. Don't you think, Mr. Speaker, it is long overdue for us to have a vote? If you have a better idea and plan, by all means, bring it to the floor in this great democracy and see it work. Instead, we see the President and Elon Musk with their eyes on the Social Security trust fund because he has been ordered to come up with $2 trillion in cuts. What a coincidence that there happens to be just over $2 trillion in the Social Security trust fund. What a coincidence that President Trump is calling for tax cuts for Social Security recipients, but doesn't pay for them, further weakening the trust fund that is already under stress. If Congress does not act by 2033, there will be a 20 percent cut across the board for everyone. If Trump continues down his path of not paying for benefits, it will be over a 36 percent cut. There are over 5 million Americans, fellow citizens, who have paid in all their life and got nothing back from the government because Congress has not acted.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak and address the Chamber about the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the Nation's number one antipoverty program for children. I speak, of course, of Social Security. Social Security is currently under attack by the Trump administration with just this weekend, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Trump calling Social Security a scam and Mr. Musk calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme. Now, Mr. Speaker, I am sure as you know in your district, you have 209,000 Social Security recipients: 157,000 are retirees; 25,000 plus are disabled workers; 10,000 are widows; 3,678 are spouses; and over 12,000 are children. I don't believe that you think that Social Security and the checks that these people receive is a scam or that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. In fact, in your district, $377 million comes into your district monthly that goes to those individuals. Where do they spend that money? They spend that money right back in your district at the grocery store, at the pharmacy, at the dry cleaners, heating and cooling their homes, paying their rent, their mortgage, and putting gasoline in their car. The brilliance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt still lives on. This is capitalism's answer to have a safety net for people, who through no fault of their own or because they work and ultimately end up retiring, have benefits that they can live on. It is especially more important as people are living longer. They need these benefits that are currently under siege by an administration who has asked Elon Musk to find $2 trillion in cuts. Where is he looking? He is looking right at your district, Mr. Speaker, and my district, and the 435 congressional districts, who, on average, receive $200 million monthly from Social Security where, on average, the more than 145,000 people per district that receive these benefits go directly back to the local economy. We are looking for three Republicans to stand with a unified Democratic Party and Congress to push forward a bill that was last extended in 1971. Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time Social Security benefits were extended for your constituents as well as my constituents in Connecticut. It is long overdue. We have a COLA that doesn't work. We have people that continue to work after they receive Social Security that are taxed on their benefits. We have had teachers and firefighters and police officers, as well, who have been denied benefits. Now, while they are eligible for them, they are not funded and so that money comes out of the trust fund. President Trump has now proposed a tax cut for Social Security that is unpaid for. That is over a $900 billion hit to Social Security and all the constituents who receive it. Mr. Speaker, I know you to be a man of goodwill and you understand your district and what your people need, as well. It is long overdue for the citizens of the United States to have their Social Security benefits enhanced, not cut.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to include in the Record the Eulogy of Dorothy Christiana, delivered at her funeral by her grandson, Sam Iacobellis. Her granddaughter Nina Bloom provided the prayers of her passing and was followed by Sam, whose eloquence, tone, humor, with compassionate care captured a truly remarkable woman and the family she raised. I have had the privilege of knowing the Christiana family for over sixty years. The farm on 1215 Silver Lane was a magical and welcoming place made so by Dorothy's cooking and her delightful daughters, Linda, Patty, and Karen, always the center of her life, and the man to whom she was devoted--Carman F. Christiana. Carman ran the iconic family farm in East Hartford, thus carrying on a tradition and farming skill he acquired throughout his life, along with the woman who loved and cared for him deeply. The story of Dorothy and her family, her husband Carman, her daughters, Linda, Patty, and Karen, is a story of love for the ages captured with eloquence by her grandson, Sam Iacobellis. Thank you all for being here today as we celebrate a truly extraordinary life. To know her was to love her. My grandmother went by many names in her dynamic 97 years. Dotty. Dot. Aunt Dot. Mrs. Christiana. Mother Dear. Ma. Gram. Great Grammie. But to me, Dorothy Christiana was always Dee Dee. Born on the 17th Day of the 7th month in the year 1927 in Manchester, Connecticut. She was the youngest of three children to Frank & Letitia Irwin. A graduate of Manchester High School's Class of 1945. Active in planning class reunions, which, appropriately, were always at the Manchester Country Club. Dee Dee loved her hometown. Whether it was regaling stories about working at a local movie theater, parading down Main Street with her family and friends after the Allies were victorious in the Second World War, never missing a Memorial Day parade where she would always point out her brother Ernie's Boy Scout troop or her long-time Sherwood Circle neighbor, Frank, behind the wheel of an 8th Utilities District fire truck, or holding court next to my parent's fireplace on Thanksgiving Day with the familiar refrain of, ``There are the runners,'' as soon as the Road Racers returned, Dee Dee just loved Manchester. That love will be forever eternalized, as she will be laid to rest just a few miles from where she entered the world, next to her parents, her brother Ernie, and her beloved husband, Carman. It is also appropriate that we are here today, in East Hartford, the place where my grandmother met her love, Carman, and started a family. The divine serendipity of a faulty bus on Silver Lane where two strangers met and set off a series of events that led to nearly all of us being together today. That divine serendipity also led to three daughters: Linda, Patty, and Karen. Three strong, gritty, accomplished, intelligent women. Women whom my grandmother knew better than they knew themselves and saw different parts of herself in each of them. The keenest of maternal instincts. The farm they called home for decades was a place for family, friends, food, laughter, and memories made. She was a surrogate mother for the phalanx of people who always walked through her front door. Speaking for my cousin Nina and I, we so wish we could have been flies on the wall at one of those legendary gatherings. It is said that there's a special place in heaven for the father of three girls. I remember seeing that written on a piece of art hung in the home of dear family friends, Ray and Peg Ramsey's home for years. I do not dispute that claim at all. Ray Ramsey is certainly there. As is my grandfather Carman, a man whom Nina and I never had the honor of meeting but have heard glorious stories about for our entire lives. I would like to say that I firmly believe that such a special place also exists for the mother of three girls. My grandmother raised three extraordinary women. Simply amazing. While my grandfather's light was extinguished far too early, it lived on in his wife and daughters. The strength and vibrancy of these three women are in no small part due to the fierce determination, ironclad will, and overwhelming dignity of my grandmother. What an example. That is simply special. What brings a smile to my face is that this legacy lives on dynamically as ever with her granddaughter, Nina. Nina and her husband Orion are raising three incredible young women: Annie, Adalin, and Noelle. Three brilliant, kind, and loving sisters who look after one another and lift each other up. The symmetry is undeniable. It is a blessing beyond measure that our grandmother got to be a great-grandmother three times over and had the opportunity to get to know these three dynamos and watch the torch passed to another generation of impressively wonderful Christian women. She was a matriarch in the truest sense of the word. Her home was always open. Food was always on the table. All were always welcome. And a card game was never far away. She was the fiercest of competitors at the card table. A skill and focus that she passed to her daughter Karen, who is probably the best card player and partner anyone could ever have. Was often reminded by my grandmother that ``there are no friends in cards.'' But moments later, she would tell us, ``Oh no, it's just for fun. It's just a game.'' Mhm . . . whether it was 9-5, set back, poker, Yahtzee, Uno, duckpin, or Wii bowling. Nobody was going to stand in her way. My grandmother was a prolific cook but was truly an iconic baker. Pies: apple, blueberry, chocolate cream, banana cream, lemon meringue, pineapple squares, Irish soda bread, cinnamon tarts, red sauce (pretty good for an Irish woman), French fries, clam dip, brownies with the best frosting you will ever have, and so much more. She loved to host backyard picnics, Christmas Eve and morning celebrations, weekly card games with her group of best friends, going to Shady Glen for a strawberry milkshake, and sitting in her chair and reading the latest Janet Evanovich book. My grandmother's talent for hosting and making her home so warm for others lives on in her daughter Patty. People are always comfortable under her threshold. A tradition she proudly carries on every single day. Dee Dee was a die-hard fan of UConn basketball, the Boston Red Sox, the Green Bay packers, and horse racing. She loved Elvis, Barry White, Lou Rawls, the Price is Right and murder mysteries (whether in print or on TV). It was often a cause of great consternation when the holiday movies bogarted the regularly scheduled programming of Hallmark's murder mystery roster. She had so many interests and talents and loved to share them with all of us. In the past few days, I have been seeking some comfort and wisdom in processing the loss of a woman that all of us loved so much and loved you all in return. Two such examples have resonated with me, and I hope they can do the same for you. In Les Miserables, a musical adored by her daughter Linda and rooted in sacrifice, selflessness, and dignity (all traits that my grandmother embodied to a ``T''), the closing lines of the show encapsulate the simple, but pure divinity of living a life full of love. As the show comes to a close, the hero, Jean Valjean, is welcomed to heaven after a life of reformed selflessness and love. The bishop, who inspired the story's hero to live a new life devoted to others, shared a simple truth with Jean Valjean as he could finally rest: ``And remember the truth that was once spoken . . . to love another person is to see the face of God.'' This sentiment, based on the divinity of humanity and the power of love, is something I have felt loving my grandmother and something I hope she felt loving all of us here. Finally, in the Wizard of Oz, a film my grandmother loved (which may have something to do with the name of the leading lady), a love she also passed on to our entire family, the titular wizard also shares some wisdom about love and affection. As the Tin Man asks him for a heart, the Wizard says, ``Hearts can never be made practical until they can be made unbreakable.'' The Tin Man responds, ``But I still want one.'' After finally giving the Tin Man a garland-adorned, ticking, heart-shaped timepiece, the Wizard concludes by saying, ``And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.'' If the Wizard is correct, then no one had a bigger heart than Dorothy Christiana. She was just so loved. Loved unconditionally by so many. The compassion she showed, often in her unique way, was the privilege of a lifetime. In closing, it's hard to fathom how much I'll miss my grandmother. The chats about basketball, politics, cooking, the family. All of it. It's equally difficult to put into words how much she loved all of the people here. But there is a silver lining. One week ago, a bus arrived. Except this one was not faulty this time. It was right on time. It took my grandmother on. It took her to a table where Lil, Clara, and Fawn were. Where Ernie & Beatty were already dealt on the table. A blueberry pie was in the oven. Elvis was playing on the radio. Ten duckpin bowling pins were reset. Her parents were waiting for their little girl with arms wide open. And her beloved Carman, smiling. Finally reunited. Showered with love. What a life well lived. I love you so much.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak directly about the Nation's preeminent antipoverty program for the elderly and the Nation's preeminent antipoverty program for children. This is something that Congress and the administration need to focus on. My colleagues can imagine how many Americans, whether they are here today or listening at home, reacted when they heard over the weekend that Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, the billionaire, said that Social Security is a scam and a Ponzi scheme. That Ponzi scheme that assists over 70 million Americans is hardly a Ponzi scheme, nor is it a scam. The real scam is to tell the American people that you need $2 trillion and assign that to a billionaire who has no accountability, did not have to go through Senate approval, is not a government employee, and isn't even a volunteer. Yet, he is placing his will on a Republican-led Congress in both the House and Senate. All that is needed is three Republicans to stand up and say: No. Wait a minute. This is not what the Nation needs. We do not need to cut Social Security benefits. We need to enhance them. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues are aware, in the Speaker's district alone, there are 189,000 Social Security recipients who haven't received an increase in benefits in more than 50 years. There are 147,000 retirees, 20,000 disabled workers, 8,700 widows, 3,700 spouses, and over 9,000 children who are depending upon Congress to fulfill its responsibility and job. Furthermore, a fact that most Members don't realize is that, in the Speaker's district in Minnesota, $325 million per month goes to those Social Security recipients. It hasn't been adjusted in more than 50 years. It is long overdue for Congress and for the citizens of this country to demand of their Congress that they take a vote to let the people know where they stand. Members should let the people know whether they are going to stand with them and the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and children or stand with Elon Musk and Trump to make sure that $2 trillion is cut so that it can make way for further tax cuts for the Nation's wealthiest 1 percent. At over $500 billion, I would think Mr. Musk might say: Do you know what? This is a great Nation that has provided me these great opportunities. How about we care for them the same way this Nation has cared for us? He won't lose a moment of sleep at night. For more than 40 million Americans, Social Security is the only benefit that they have. Whether it is in Minnesota or Connecticut, they will be losing sleep over the fact that they are worried about whether or not they are going to be able to get their benefits, the thing they rely on to put food on their table and to heat and cool their homes. This is no extravagant item that people are asking for. This is something that they have earned and paid for. Their government continues to not act and respond the way that they should do. Mr. Speaker, we need a vote. The Speaker owes it to his people. We owe it to ours. Let's have a vote and give these individuals the Social Security benefits that they need.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children. That program is Social Security. Yet, Mr. Speaker, as you know, Congress has not addressed or enhanced Social Security in more than 54 years. Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time that Congress enhanced Social Security. I am sure it is of interest to some of our listeners here today that Social Security is the number one insurance program for a Nation who relies on their government to make sure that it passes on savings to them that they have paid for. This is no entitlement. All one has to do is go to their pay stub where it says FICA, Federal insurance contribution. Whose money is that? It is your money. Yet, Congress hasn't acted on it. However, we want to give that opportunity to everyone to act on it. What is especially alarming, Mr. Speaker, is now Mr. Musk--an unelected official who operates outside of government, who doesn't need to be approved by the Senate, who is neither a Federal employee nor a volunteer, he has the ear of the President of the United States and can get all the statistics and data that he wants--is currently going after Social Security data. I commend the Federal employees who have stood up to this illegal act and refused, in an effort to protect American citizens' valuable information and, most importantly, their privacy. Mr. Speaker, as you know, you have 115,000 Social Security recipients in your district: 86,000 are retirees; 10,000 are disabled workers who rely on this money; 5,486 widows; 2,600 spouses; 8,613 children; and your district gets on a monthly basis $197 million. Where do they spend that? Right back in your district, Mr. Speaker. Nobody gets wealthy on Social Security. It is the safety net for capitalism. That is what Roosevelt intended it to be. It is long overdue that we have a vote in the United States Congress to enhance Social Security benefits for all Americans. There are 10,000 baby boomers who become eligible for Social Security every day. More than 70 million people receive Social Security, and now Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump are out to cut those benefits? Ask your constituents where those cuts are going to come from, Mr. Speaker. Are they ready to say that cuts ought to be made to the money that they receive? In something that was widely debunked last week, President Trump made the most outlandish claim that Social Security is contributing money to people who are supposedly 150 years old. That was widely debunked as false and untrue, but it is the kind of thing that is seen in dictatorships or at the start of fascism when people all of a sudden make outlandish claims that are untrue with regard to the Nation's number one insurance program for the elderly and our children, which Congress hasn't enhanced in more than 54 years. The public ought to be demanding a vote of its Members. Do not let any Member of Congress stand up without saying where they stand on your benefits.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I regrettably missed votes on February 11, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted: Nay on Roll Call No. 38, On Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 122. No on Roll Call No. 39, On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 122.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I regrettably missed votes on February 10, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yea on Roll Call No. 36, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 692. Nay on Roll Call No. 37, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 736.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address ongoing concerns about Social Security, especially just in this past week since Mr. Musk has decided that he, in an unauthorized position not approved by the Senate and with no accountability, is after everybody's data and information at SSA. Mr. Speaker, it might surprise some of the viewers in our audience to know why the wealthiest man in the world needs to know your Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid information. Privacy is something that Americans value. Data is something that billionaires can turn into money. Mr. Speaker, we need to know what role Elon Musk and DOGE--or I call it dodge because they dodge accountability--will have with the agency and everyone's hard-earned benefits, as if an unconfirmed, unelected billionaire should have access to yours or anyone's sensitive information. If the cuts that they are promising and what he is looking for come through, then that means people's personal Social Security will be reduced by 36 percent. It hasn't been enhanced since Richard Nixon was President of the United States. Now, Mr. Musk is out because he has been charged to cut the budget by $2 trillion. As everyone knows, 70 percent of the Federal budget comes from Social Security, Medicare, and defense. They are coming after you. Specifically, they need that data also so he and his minions of unauthorized, unaccountable people can go forward. We have written to Acting Commissioner King. Attorneys general across the country, including my own from the State of Connecticut, Attorney General Tong, are putting forward attempts. Then, we learned today or this morning that President Trump says that he is just going to ignore the courts because he believes that he is above the law, Mr. Speaker, that he is not accountable to anyone. Now, he is saying that he is not even accountable to the courts because he and the billionaire class have gotten together and said: Don't worry. No one on the Republican side of the House and Senate who controls both the House and Senate is going to speak up and challenge us. We need to protect Americans' privacy and their Social Security. For 40 percent of all Americans, Social Security is the basis for their retirement and their retirement savings. For 28 million Americans, Social Security is the only thing that they have, and that is why we have to make sure that we are protecting it, as well.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about Social Security, the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the Nation's number one antipoverty program for children. Every Member of this 435-person body is impacted by Social Security. It might surprise you, Mr. Speaker, that Social Security has not been enhanced in over 50 years. For what purpose is Mr. Trump's latest proposal, and that of Elon Musk, to acquire all the data and information on the more than 70 million Social Security recipients and Medicare and Medicaid recipients? Americans should be outraged. Clearly, one would hope that people in this body are outraged enough to speak up on behalf of their citizens. Why? More than 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. More than 70 million people across this Nation receive Social Security, a governmental insurance program that has never missed a payment. Yet, Congress hasn't enhanced the program in over 50 years. God help us, but Mr. Musk has plans for Social Security and Medicare. They have been charged with cutting $2 trillion out of the budget. The three largest items in the Federal budget are Social Security, Medicare, and defense. Where is Mr. Musk going with this, and why does he need the data and information on every American citizen and more than 70 million Social Security recipients? I hope that you, Mr. Speaker, are mentioning this to your constituents in your district. You have over 115,000 people who get pensions from Social Security; 88,000 retirees; 10,000-plus disabled workers, most of them veterans; 5,486 widows; 2,509 spouses; and 8,000 children. Mr. Speaker, what most Members don't realize is that this is the number one economic development plan for every single congressional district. Why? Every district, on average, gets $2 million a month from Social Security because it goes directly to those constituents, Mr. Speaker, who I just named. Where do they spend that money, Mr. Speaker? Right back in their own districts, right back at the local pharmacy, at the grocery store, on heating and cooling their homes, and on putting gas in their tanks. This is what the American people are facing. When are people in this body going to have the guts to stand up and take a vote for their constituents, people who haven't seen a benefit enhancement in more than 50 years? Do we think the cost of living has changed a little? Is it okay that 5 million of our fellow Americans get checks below the poverty level, having paid into a system all their lives? Is it okay that most of them are women because they have spent less time in the workforce while taking care of their children? When they were in the workforce, they were earning less. Rise up, America. Rise up, Mr. Speaker. Join us in saying: Let's have a vote. Let's send what our constituents need. We haven't done the job in more than 50 years. Now is the time to act. Mr. Trump says that he is going to make sure he eliminates taxes on Social Security. That is another major problem. Of course, we have that in a bill that is before this body. The difference is we pay for it. Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump don't want to pay for it because what they want to do with that money is provide another tax break for the wealthy on the backs of everyday working Americans who have done this throughout their lifetimes. Mr. Speaker, I hope everybody in this Chamber finds some spine, stands up, and takes a vote on Social Security.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I am here this morning, and I rise to speak and address the Nation's number one insurance program: Social Security. Mr. Speaker, it might surprise you that on average, there are about 150,000 Social Security recipients per district. What is equally shocking, however, is that Congress has done nothing in more than 50 years to comprehensively address Social Security, the Nation's number one antipoverty program for seniors and also for individuals. I know we will have another Speaker, but in the gentleman's district alone, there are over 175,000 recipients. Social Security brings in a monthly amount of almost $200 million. That makes it the best economic development program in the Nation with everyone receiving those benefits. Yet, Congress hasn't acted, Mr. Speaker, since Richard Nixon was President of the United States. That was back in 1971. Now, some will say: Wait a minute, didn't we just recently pass something for teachers and firefighters and police officers and municipal employees? Yes, we did. We did pass that, but we did not enhance it because we didn't pay for it. In essence what that does, being unpaid for, is further hurt the Social Security program by about $98 billion. President Trump has got a proposal. His proposal is to do away with taxes for people on Social Security. We have had that proposal in a bill for more than 10 years. The difference is we pay for it so that the trust fund stays intact, Mr. Speaker. The President does not, so what that would mean is if it were to pass unpaid for, that by 2030, there would be a 36 percent hit on everyone's Social Security. In other words, 2 years after President Trump is out of office, the Social Security fund would be hurt by 36 percent. What does that mean? To the listeners out there and to you, Mr. Speaker, what it means is that is a 36 percent cut in their benefits. The average benefit for Social Security for a male is $18,000 and for a female, it is $14,000. In 2030, do you think they could stand a 36 percent cut for that? The last time Congress enhanced Social Security for its constituents was 1971. Now, some might say: No, wait a minute, in 1983 didn't Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan enhance Social Security? Yes, they did. They worked out a deal. Mr. Speaker, they worked out a deal to prolong the length of Social Security. They did so by raising the age, which sounds logical, doesn't it, until you realize that for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits. Proposals by the Republican Study Committee to raise the age to 70, for all of the C-SPAN viewers and listeners out there, that would mean a 21 percent cut in their benefits. As I said, that Social Security pension benefit for 40 percent of Americans is the only thing that they have. That is why this Congress has to take action and do something constructive for all Social Security recipients. As has been expressed by President Biden, there is a pretty simple solution staring us right in the face. Everybody ought to pay into Social Security. Billionaires and millionaires shouldn't be exempt from paying into Social Security. Some pay nothing. Others are done paying by January 1. Working-class America has to pay throughout. Vote for Social Security.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a critical issue for all of America, Social Security. Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are more than 70 million Social Security recipients in the United States of America. What most Americans don't realize is that it has been more than 50 years since Congress last enhanced Social Security. Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time Congress voted to enhance benefits. Now, some will say: Well, wait a minute, didn't we just recently vote on Social Security in terms of making sure that teachers and firefighters and municipal employees and police officers would be able to get Social Security insurance? The answer is, yes, we did, except it wasn't paid for, which means that when we say it hasn't been enhanced, in fact, what that did is cut the Social Security trust fund. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that it is long overdue that we have a vote on Social Security. That doesn't seem to ask too much of the new Congress, and after all, the incoming President says that he cares about Social Security and has proposed also that there be tax cuts for people on Social Security. That is a good idea, except they have to be paid for. His legislation doesn't call for that, but ours does. We have put before the American people, and will be bringing to the floor, Social Security legislation that enhances the program for the first time in 50-plus years. Imagine that, 70 million recipients. There are 5 million of our fellow Americans who get below-poverty-level checks from Social Security after having paid into the system all their lives because Congress hasn't acted. Congress hasn't voted. There are some 35 million Americans whom the only benefit that they have is Social Security. The average Social Security payment is $18,000 for a male, $14,000 for a female. No one is getting wealthy on Social Security, but it is, as I like to say, the lifeline of capitalism, the full support for capitalism. It allows people to take risks. It allows us to be entrepreneurial because in the event the business doesn't succeed or fail, there is that system. The genius of Franklin Delano Roosevelt was that he saw that, and the genius of successive Congresses was that they enhanced the program. However, the last time it was enhanced, Richard Nixon was President of the United States in 1971. This also is, for Americans, a lifeline because of what it does. Speaker Smith was just in the chair before, and I was explaining that in his district, he has over 150,000 recipients, Mr. Speaker. Those recipients are broken down in several different ways: Retirees, over 100,000; spouses, over 8,000; widows, 8,000; 14,000 disabled people in Speaker Smith's district, but they haven't received an increase from the United States Congress since 1971. If you disagree with it--if you disagree that people don't deserve this, to have their Social Security updated, brought into the modern times that we live in, then vote against it, but for God's sake, for the more than 70 million Americans who rely on this and need this, it is long overdue for a vote. Don't you think so?

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the concern that faces the United States Congress, one that it has avoided and neglected for more than 54 years. Richard Nixon was the last President to enhance Social Security. That was in 1971. All of us are concerned on both sides of the aisle, but concern is no substitute for action. It is long overdue that Congress takes a vote on behalf of the American people. Social Security is more than a pension program. I think the American public knows it and is getting aroused because there are 70 million Americans that are on Social Security and 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. Mr. Speaker, for example, in your district alone there are over 175,000 Social Security recipients. It is broken down into those who receive pensions, those who get spousal benefits, those who get widow benefits, children, and, of course, disabilities. More veterans rely on Social Security disability than they do on the VA. It is not emphasized enough, but the other key thing is: Social Security is the best economic development program that there is in the country. Every district, on average, gets over $200 million coming into that district on a monthly basis. Where do they spend that money? Nobody gets wealthy on Social Security. That is for sure. That money goes right back into the economy. It becomes something that Congress hasn't adjusted since 1971. I think there are a few things everyone would acknowledge that have happened to the economy since 1971. Certainly, Congress is neglecting its responsibility. We can point fingers every way, but the bottom line is Congress needs to act. Congress needs to vote. President Trump has called for tax cuts for people on Social Security. I applaud him. We have had tax cuts in our proposal for the last decade. There has been no action on that. The difference between what we are proposing and what President Trump is proposing is that we pay for ours because if it is not paid for, what ends up happening is the Social Security fund will be bankrupted. It is still the number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for children. This economic development piece is something, again, that all of us ought to be able to embrace. I will provide every Member of Congress with a card that will demonstrate how many recipients they have and how much money comes into their district on a monthly basis. For us, meaning the United States Congress, we are the only body that can act. The President can't do it through executive order. The Supreme Court isn't going to take it up. Only the United States Congress can. Inaction means the fund will be cut. Unpaid action means the fund will be cut drastically. Imagine there are more than 5 million people that get a below- poverty-level check from Social Security, having paid in all their lives. That was not the guarantee that they signed up for. There are close to 35 million people in total. This is the only benefit they have, again, attesting to the great vision and leadership of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, knowing this is actually the safety net of capitalism. This allows people to take risks because even if people were to fail, there is something there to catch them and help them and their families through this. Congress has not acted since 1971. Some will say: No, no, wait a minute. Didn't Tip O'Neill? Yes, they did. It was primarily led by Senator Bob Dole, but Tip O'Neill got together with Ronald Reagan who was adamantly opposed to Social Security. Mr. Dole convinced him, no, this is the right thing to do. What they did is they extended the solvency of Social Security to its current position. It is not as long as it should have been, but, nonetheless, it is an action that went in the right direction. I know the Speaker to be a man of good will and integrity. I hope this is something that we can bring up and work on to get this done on behalf of the American people.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for Roll Call Vote No. 3, Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 5, I would have voted Nay. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote No. 4, Motion to Commit H. Res. 5, I would have voted Yea. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote No. 5, Agreeing to H. Res. 5, I would have voted Nay.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 502, on H.R. 7213.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, as all Americans know, Social Security is the number one antipoverty program for the elderly of this country. Most people don't realize that it is also the number one antipoverty program for children in this country. What is further annoying to most Americans is that it has been 54 years since Congress, who has the responsibility for doing so, has enhanced Social Security benefits. This has a direct impact on every district in the country. In the Speaker's district, there are over 174,000 Social Security recipients, and 142,000 of them are retirees; 13,000-plus are disabled workers; 7,000-plus are widows; 3,000 are spouses; and over 7,000 are children. Mr. Speaker, what most Members don't realize is the direct economic impact and economic development impact that this has on their district. For example, the Speaker's district receives $353 million monthly for those 174,000 recipients. Where do they spend that money, Mr. Speaker? They spend it right back in the districts where they live. Nobody gets wealthy on Social Security, but it has been the mainstay to keep people out of poverty, both the elderly and children alike. Congress has not taken any action to enhance those benefits since 1971. Richard Nixon was the President of the United States the last time this body, which is in charge of making sure that Americans receive this benefit, has taken any action to ensure that people in the Speaker's district and in mine and in all 435 districts receive Social Security benefits. Here are the statistics: Over 70 million Americans rely on Social Security. For more than 35 million Americans, it is the only retirement benefit that they have. Americans are getting concerned by the day because 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to plead for Congress to take action. Have a vote. If Members have a better idea, they should put it forward. President Trump has at least called for tax cuts. Most people don't realize that, when they retire, all of a sudden, they are being double taxed because their Social Security is taxed. That is a good idea, but President Trump's plan doesn't pay for that. When it is not paid for, the money comes directly out of the trust fund, therefore hurting everybody in the program because it will reduce Social Security benefits by 36 percent as soon as 2031. That is not a long way off, and this body of Congress has been woefully negligent in making sure it is speaking out on behalf of the American people and the citizens that we are sworn to serve. This is capitalism's safety net. The reason that we are able to thrive as a Nation and be entrepreneurial in the system is because we have a safety net for our workforce. In the event that a business collapses or people get laid off or they don't have work, there is Social Security. That is the brilliance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that is still with us, and it is embraced overwhelmingly by Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated persons. It is time to act, Mr. Speaker.