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Pelosi Statement on 83rd Anniversary of Social Security

August 14, 2018

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

Washington D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement marking the 83rd anniversary of Social Security, which was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935:

"For 83 years, Social Security has stood as the cornerstone of America's commitment to our nation's hard-working families and seniors. Whether in retirement, disability or following the loss of a loved one, Social Security has guaranteed that a lifetime of hard-work will be met with dignity, respect and economic security.

"Yet Republicans have constantly pushed radical schemes to privatize Social Security and undermine its bedrock guarantees. Today, the financial security and well-being of millions of Americans are again under dire threat from the Republican Congress and Trump Administration's brazen special interest agenda. Republicans exploded the deficit with their $2 trillion unpaid-for giveaways to the wealthiest 1 percent and big corporations, and are now using the deficit to attack Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. If successful, their brutal budgets and constant attacks on people with pre-existing conditions would cruelly rob hard-working Americans of their health, their dignity and their rights.

"Democrats will always defend the sacred promise of a dignified retirement after a lifetime of work. We defeated President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, and we will fight relentlessly against Republicans' effort to dismantle its core guarantee to our seniors. Democrats are fighting to make Washington work For The People, and we will continue to fight Republicans' malicious assault on the health, well-being and financial security of American seniors and families."

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Issues:Health Care