Other Issues - Social Security

Protecting Social Security

Social Security is one of the most popular and successful government programs in our history. More than 95% of American workers participate in the system. It is the foundation of our nation's retirement safety net and keeps 40% of our nation's seniors from living in poverty. Furthermore, it provides disability insurance for workers, and security for their surviving spouses and children. Because so many people depend so heavily upon it, any changes in the current system must be reviewed very carefully.

April 26, 2005 -- Rep. Waxman and other Democratic Members of Congress gather in Upper Senate Park on Capitol Hill at a rally to protect Social Security. See more photos. Watch video highlights.

Social Security Calculator
See how your benefits could change under the President's Private Accounts plan.

Chronology

February 2006
In his Fiscal Year 2007 budget proposal, President Bush has renewed his call to privatize Social Security. The Democratic staff of the House Ways and Means Committee provides an analysis of the proposal, outlining the benefit cuts for the middle class and raiding of the Social Security Trust Fund that would occur under privatization.
Analysis
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February 3, 2006
Internal Documents Reveal That Medicare Drug Benefit Is Causing Chaos At Social Security Administration
In a letter to Speaker Hastert, Rep. Waxman asks for hearings on new revelations that budget cuts and the Medicare Part D program are overwhelming the Social Security Administration.

April 2005
The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
The Social Security Fix: Pay It Back (text version) (PDF version)

April 28, 2005
President's Social Security Statements Break Moral and Legal Commitment
The President's recent remarks that the Social Security trust funds are "empty promises" that the government "cannot keep" break a 70-year commitment to the American people that Social Security contributions will be held in trust, not diverted to pay for tax cuts and other government expenditures.

April 6, 2005
GAO Asked to Assess Costs of President’s Social Security Tour
Rep. Waxman asks GAO to assess the costs of the President's "60 Stops in 60 Days" tour and related Administration efforts to rally political support for his Social Security proposals.

March 16, 2005
Civil Rights Commission Considers Biased Social Security Studies
Democratic Leader Pelosi, Rep. Waxman, and six other members of Congress express serious reservations about the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights' consideration of proposed studies on Social Security's impact on minorities that appear to be politically biased.

February 28, 2005
SSA Altered Communications to Undermine Confidence
A new report released by Reps. Waxman and other senior members of Congress details how the Social Security Administration has systematically altered its public communications.

June 7, 2004
Government Borrowing from Your Social Security Contributions
Each week, through FICA contributions from their paychecks, millions of Americans contribute to the Social Security trust funds, the federal 'nest egg' that provides for their future benefits. Under the budget proposed by the Bush Administration, the government is expected to borrow over $2 trillion from these Social Security trust funds to pay for government spending over the next ten years.

October 1, 2002
Social Security and Working Families in Los Angeles County
A report released by Rep. Waxman analyzes the impact of federal deficits on the Social Security contributions of working families in Los Angeles County.