Opinion & Commentary By Donna Westfall – March 12, 2024

How many of you know that our presidents have borrowed against Social Security? I was shocked when I was first told. When I heard that, I was a life insurance agent at Metropolitan Life during the late 1980’s.

What’s the situation with Social Security these days. I don’t think those of us currently receiving SS benefits need to worry. It’s the youngsters working these days that may not get very much. The fund is predicted to be depleted by 2034 and that future recipients will only get 78% of their full benefits unless Congress acts.

I wrote our Senator Alex Padilla about my concerns and he was nice enough to respond today’s date:

Dear Mrs. Westfall,

Thank you for writing to share your support for Social Security. I appreciate hearing from you.

I believe Congress must guarantee that our seniors receive their hard-earned Social Security benefits while ensuring the solvency of the program so future generations of seniors also receive these benefits.

That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the “Social Security 2100 Act” (S. 2280), introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Among other provisions, this legislation would increase Social Security benefits, repeal provisions that reduce benefits for some public sector workers, protect benefits from inflation, and ensure the solvency of Social Security for decades to come. This bill is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Finance, of which I am not a member. 

I was also a cosponsor of the “Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2021” (S. 2065), introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). This legislation would have raised benefit levels, increased the program’s asset limit and indexed it to inflation, updated income exclusions and indexed them to inflation, and eliminated the marriage penalty and in-kind maintenance and support rules. This bill did not pass the Senate in the 117th Congress and has yet to be reintroduced this Congress.

Rest assured, I do not support efforts to cut or privatize Social Security. Please know that I am committed to not only protecting but also expanding Social Security benefits so that we can guarantee that all Americans have a dignified retirement.

Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3553 or visit my website at padilla.senate.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook, and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at padilla.senate.gov/newsletter.

Sincerely,

Alex Padilla
United States Senator