{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222222540/http://schwartz.house.gov/press-release/schwartz-urges-passage-bill-strengthen-social-security", "Schwartz Urges Passage of Bill to Strengthen Social Security", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Allyson Schwartz", "S001162", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13) today called on the House to pass the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013 (H.R. 3118) to boost existing benefits while ensuring that Social Security is stronger for future generations.\n \u201cFar too many Pennsylvanians are concerned about whether they will have enough money to live comfortably when they retire. We have an obligation to ensure that American seniors who have spent a lifetime working hard, saving for their retirement and paying into Social Security have the dignity and financial independence they deserve,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cThis bill ensures that Social Security continues to provide the bedrock of retirement security for millions of Americans today and in the decades to come.\u201d\n \nIn Pennsylvania alone, Social Security provides more than 1.7 million seniors with the foundation for a dignified retirement. Social Security also provides benefits to more than 400,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities and more than 192,000 children. \u00a0\nSchwartz is a cosponsor of the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013, which Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38) introduced in September. The bill increases benefits and extends the solvency of the Social Security trust fund an additional 17 years, through 2049. The legislation:\n Changes the benefit calculation formula the Social Security Administration uses, which would boost benefits for Social Security beneficiaries by approximately $65 per month.\nEnsures that benefits adequately reflect cost increases facing seniors by changing the way the Social Security Administration calculates Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). Under the bill, future COLAs will be based on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). \u00a0\nExtends the Social Security Trust Fund\u2019s solvency by gradually phasing out the current taxable cap of $113,700.\n As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Social Security and as a member of the Seniors Task Force, Schwartz has long been a champion for preserving Social Security and has fought tirelessly to protect and strengthen it. Throughout her tenure in Congress, she has opposed efforts to privatize these guaranteed retirement benefits that have helped millions of Americans for more than 75 years.\nSens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are leading the effort in the Senate to expand Social Security. The Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013 is the House companion to legislation (S. 567) Harkin introduced in March. The House version has been referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee, as well as the House Committee on Ways and Means, on which Schwartz serves.\nThe legislation is supported by AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance for Retired Americans, Campaign for Community Change, the National Organization for Women (NOW), Strengthen Social Security Coalition, Social Security Works, the United Automobile Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), and United Steelworkers.\u00a0\nSTATEMENTS OF SUPPORT\nMax Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare: \u00a0\u201cOn behalf of the millions of members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I am writing to express appreciation for your continued strong leadership on behalf of America\u2019s seniors and most recently your co-sponsorship of H.R. 3118, the \u201cStrengthen Social Security Act of 2013,\u201d Richtman wrote in a letter to Schwartz. \u201cThe National Committee appreciates your efforts to preserve Social Security for the long term, and your recognition of the importance of this issue to Americans of all ages. \u00a0Pennsylvania\u2019s 90,000 National Committee members and supporters know that as a member of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee you are helping to lead the ongoing fight against Social Security privatization and that they can always count on you!\u201d\nNancy Altman and Eric Kingson, Co-chairs, Strengthen Social Security Coalition: \u201cRep. Allyson Schwartz's support for expanding Social Security shows that she stands with the vast majority of Americans who believe that our country is a place where hard work and playing by the rules are rewarded with the ability to retire with dignity. She joins a growing number of national leaders who recognize that the time has come to expand Social Security. \u00a0We thank Rep. Schwartz for her leadership on strengthening Social Security by expanding it.\u201d\nCampaign for Community Change Managing Director Mary Lassen: \u201cThe Campaign for Community Change has worked with seniors and others throughout the country who depend on Social Security and are fighting to defend our Social Security system against the cuts proposed in Congress. \u00a0A grassroots movement for retirement security has been successful thus far in warding off such cuts, and through the Strengthening Social Security Act the debate is now about how to expand this vital anti-poverty system. \u00a0We applaud Rep. Schwartz for being an initial co-sponsor for HR-3118 and look forward to continuing the push together for a Social Security System that allows all Americans to retire with dignity.\u201d\nSen. Tom Harkin: \u201cAmericans from all walks of life are facing a retirement crisis and are deeply worried that they will not have enough money to live on when they stop working. \u00a0We need to do more to ensure that after a lifetime of hard work seniors are able to retire with dignity. I am pleased to have Rep. Schwartz as a supporter of legislation to strengthen Social Security by expanding benefits, extending the life of the Trust Fund, and ensuring that everyone pays into Social Security equally. I look forward to working with her and others to fight to protect and expand Social Security in the months ahead.\u201d\u00a0\nUAW President Bob King: \u201cI am proud to thank Rep. Allyson Schwartz for her long and storied history of standing up for America\u2019s seniors. I strongly encourage other Members of Congress to join her in cosponsoring the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013. \u00a0Growing income inequality weakens our middle class and threatens our democracy. Congress must act to reverse this troubling trend by enacting policies that help working families retire in dignity. This legislation is long overdue and would go a long way in ensuring the retirement security of millions of Americas. At a time when income security for seniors is less and less certain, we need to find ways as a nation to strengthen Social Security\u2014not weaken it. The Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013 does just that by increasing benefits and extending the solvency of the Social Security trust fund an additional 17 years, through 2049. This bill brings more fairness to people who have lived by the rules, worked hard, & contributed so much to our country.\u201d\nDiane Menio, Executive Director of the Philadelphia-based Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE): \u00a0\u201cWe are grateful that Congresswoman Schwartz has fought so hard to protect Social Security over the years and we are pleased that she is pushing to get this legislation passed. As one of Congresswoman Schwartz's constituents, I know how devoted she is to protecting seniors and making sure that Social Security is strong for seniors today and in the decades ahead.\u201d\nAFL-CIO Government Affairs Director Bill Samuel: \u201cThe decline in traditional pensions, coupled with stock market losses in retirement savings plans and diminished home equity, means that Social Security is all the more critical to Americans\u2019 retirement security. \u00a0Allyson Schwartz wisely recognizes that Social Security is an obvious solution to our nation\u2019s retirement income deficit. \u00a0As our nation\u2019s most successful, cost-efficient, and popular government program, Social Security should not just be strengthened, it should be expanded.\u201d\nRaechel Hammer, Vice President of the Raymond and Miriam Klein JCC in Philadelphia: \u201cCongresswoman Allyson Schwartz has been a long-standing advocate for seniors. Her history of support for legislation that benefits our senior community such as Social Security, Medicare, Civic Engagement and many others is well known and recognized both locally and nationally. We applaud her continued efforts to support our eldest community members and protect those who are vulnerable and at-risk in our society.\u201d \u00a0\nRobin Burstein, Executive Director of Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services: \u201cWith the costs of living consistently increasing and so much uncertainty in the future, more older adults are dependent on the Social Security system than ever before. \u00a0Social Security benefits must be raised to meet the increasing costs of living and it must be preserved well into the future to ensure it meets the increased demand from the growing number of older adults reaching retirement age. That is why I appreciate and support Congresswoman Schwartz\u2019s consistent effort to strengthen Social Security and ensure our seniors receive the benefits they contributed towards and depend upon to live with dignity in their older age.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222222540/http://schwartz.house.gov/press-release/schwartz-urges-passage-bill-strengthen-social-security"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.873262993991375, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}