Subcommittee on social sushlg held a hearing on the impact of coronavirus on Social Security. Several raised concerns about a payroll tax cut which they said would reduce funding for the program. The subcommittee on Social Security will come to order. I want to welcome all of our witnesses and audience members. Thank you, everyone, for joining with us today as we all bear up under covid19 and address technologically to coming together. We will begin with Opening Statements by myself and the Ranking Member followed by testimony from our witnesses, and the opportunity for each member to ask questions. Well dispense of the practice observing givens rule and instead go in order of seniority for questioning. Alternating between minority and majority. Members will be responsible for muting and unmuting themselves throughout the proceedings. I thank you all for your patience as we navigate this new technology in order to continue serving our country in this great time of need. With that, i wo
Exacerbated by the pandemic. Individuals, especially in that situation, they depend on facetoface contact with someone in Social Security or at least someone they can talk to. And i dont know if youve ever tried to call the 800 number, but if you have, youre going to be on hold for a very long time. I think having more resources as you just pointed out, as shaun mentioned would go a long way. I have made recommendations that Social Security make an effort to partner with some nonprofits in the area to help in advising those who want to claim ssi, how to navigate the system and i think thats worth exploring. I hope Social Security will take that up as well. Congressman mr. Ferguson is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you for your leadership. I think we all agree the worse thing that any of us could do is not to act on this issue. If you want to see real harm done to americans, lets not do anything and see what happens. I would like to commend both of you for your leadership in
sen. sanders: today we have a hearing on today we have a hearing on a subject that is of a norma s interest to almost every american. that is the future of social security in our country. let me thank all of our panelists for being with us. and let me thank the senators, who i know are going to be filtering in as the hearing progresses. my understanding is that ranking member lindsey graham has a scheduling conflict and will be making his opening statement after our witnesses testify, is that right? social security, as everybody knows, is one of the most popular and successful government programs in the history of our nation. for more than 80 years in good times and bad, social security has paid out every benefit ode to every eligible american on time and without delay. i think that is important to make that point. we live in a moment of great insecurity. and yet, social security, since its inception has never failed the american people and remains a program enormously imp
social security. some senators and witnesses argue the tax code should be more fair and the wealthiest americans need to pay more into the system. others think social security needs to be on more secure financial ground before expanding benefits. the hearing is two hours. sen. sanders: today we have a hearing on a subject that s of enormous interest to, i think, almost every american, and that is the future of social security in our country. and let me thank all of our panelists for being with us. and let me thank the senators with i know will be filtering in as the hearing progresses. my understanding is that ranking member lindsey graham has a scheduling conflict and will be making his opening statement after our witnesses testify. is that right? ok. social security is, i think, as everybody knows, one of the most popular and successful government programs in the history of our nation. for more than 80 years in good times and bad, social security has paid out every benefit
providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. next, the senate budget committee looking at preserves social security. some senators and witnesses argue the tax code should be more fair and the wealthiest americans need to pay more into the system. others think social security needs to be on more secure financial ground before expanding benefits. the hearing is two hours. sen. sanders: today we have a hearing on a subject that s of enormous interest to, i think, almost every american, and that is the future of social security in our country. and let me thank all of our panelists for being with us. and let me thank the senators with i know will be filtering in as the hearing progresses. my understanding is that ranking member lindsey graham has a scheduling conflict and will be making his opening statement after our witnesses testify. is that right? ok. social security is, i think, as everybody knows, one of the most popular and successful government programs in the hist