Boyle Statement on the 89th Anniversary of Social Security
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement on the 89th anniversary of the Social Security Act:
“89 years ago today, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law and created the greatest anti-poverty program in American history,” said Ranking Member Boyle. “And for 89 years, Social Security has been a sacred promise that after a lifetime of hard work, Americans deserve to retire with dignity. Today, that sacred promise is under threat from a Republican party hell-bent on selling out the middle class to protect the wealthiest few.”
“With the 2025 budget from the Republican Study Committee, which represents every single member of House Republican leadership, Republicans have made their plans to cut our hard-earned benefits crystal clear. Republicans may have chosen to cut benefits even as they push trillions in tax cuts for the rich, but House Democrats know we can secure benefits once and for all by making the ultra-wealthy contribute their fair share. I will continue fighting with everything I have to make sure we keep the promise of Social Security for all generations.”
Background:
Last year, House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse introduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, legislation that would extend Social Security solvency indefinitely by making the nation's highest earners contribute their fair share. While cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits is opposed by 88 percent of Americans, Americans across the ideological spectrum support protecting Social Security by making the wealthy pay their fair share, including 63 percent of Republicans.
State-by-state analysis from House Budget Committee Democrats shows that raising the retirement age as proposed by the Republican Study Committee would cut benefits for millions of people across the United States:
State
Number of People Facing Benefit Cuts
Percent of Population
Alabama
3,810,000
76%
Alaska
590,000
80%
Arizona
5,490,000
75%
Arkansas
2,310,000
76%
California
30,950,000
79%
Colorado
4,570,000
79%
Connecticut
2,690,000
75%
Delaware
730,000
72%
District of Columbia
550,000
82%
Florida
15,670,000
72%
Georgia
8,560,000
79%
Hawaii
1,070,000
74%
Idaho
1,470,000
77%
Illinois
9,740,000
77%
Indiana
5,240,000
77%
Iowa
2,410,000
75%
Kansas
2,250,000
77%
Kentucky
3,440,000
76%
Louisiana
3,550,000
77%
Maine
960,000
70%
Maryland
4,740,000
77%
Massachusetts
5,290,000
76%
Michigan
7,500,000
75%
Minnesota
4,360,000
76%
Mississippi
2,260,000
76%
Missouri
4,650,000
75%
Montana
810,000
73%
Nebraska
1,520,000
77%
Nevada
2,430,000
77%
New Hampshire
1,010,000
73%
New Jersey
7,070,000
76%
New Mexico
1,580,000
75%
New York
14,990,000
76%
North Carolina
8,060,000
76%
North Dakota
600,000
78%
Ohio
8,850,000
75%
Oklahoma
3,090,000
77%
Oregon
3,180,000
75%
Pennsylvania
9,560,000
74%
Puerto Rico
2,300,000
71%
Rhode Island
810,000
74%
South Carolina
3,860,000
74%
South Dakota
680,000
75%
Tennessee
5,320,000
76%
Texas
24,010,000
81%
Utah
2,790,000
84%
Vermont
460,000
72%
Virginia
6,670,000
77%
Washington
6,000,000
77%
West Virginia
1,280,000
72%
Wisconsin
4,420,000
75%
Wyoming
430,000
75%
Total
256,630,000
77%
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