Grijalva Celebrates 81st Anniversary of Social Security, Urges Program Expansion
TUCSON – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) today marked the 81st anniversary of the enactment of the Social Security program, which President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed into law on August 14, 1935.
“Social Security has delivered the promise of a secure retirement and vital disability support to countless Americans for more than eight decades,” Rep. Grijalva said. “This earned benefit is an investment we all make to ensure every American is treated with the dignity they deserve after a lifetime of work. In Arizona alone, more than 1.2 million people receive Social Security benefits, including more than 107,000 people in the 3rd District which I represent, each receiving on average more than $1,000 per month.
“These funds are vital for my constituents, as they are for the nearly 60 million Americans all across the country who rely on Social Security. Stagnant wages and growing income inequality have robbed too many working families of the means they need to save for retirement. With more and more people relying on Social Security as their primary means of income in retirement, it is absolutely vital that we strengthen and expand the program. By expanding benefits and requiring the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share in payroll taxes, we can secure the program’s future and help American families adapt to this new economic reality.”
Social Security’s economic impact extends beyond the seniors and families receiving benefits – it also benefits state economies and local businesses all across the country. Nearly 60 million Americans spend $883 billion in Social Security benefits nationwide each year – supporting businesses with dollars they wouldn’t have without Social Security.
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