FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Doug McGinn
October 28, 1999 (202) 225-3031

RYAN HAILS CONGRESSIONAL EFFORTS ENDING THE RAID ON SOCIAL SECURITY

"It is now official," said Ryan. "For the first time in 30 years, Congress passed its annual spending bills without touching one cent of Social Security."
WASHINGTON - At a press conference today, First District Congressman Paul Ryan hailed the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) announcement that for the first time in 30 years Congress did not raid Social Security to help pay for annual appropriations bills. Ryan noted that the 13 annual spending bills passed this year by Congress actually resulted in a $1 billion surplus.

"It is now official," said Ryan. "For the first time in 30 years, Congress passed its annual spending bills without touching one cent of Social Security. We must now call upon the President to live up to his commitment to not raid the Social Security Trust Fund and sign these bills into law."

Earlier this year Ryan introduced legislation commonly referred to as the Social Security "Lock Box" that would make it illegal for Congress or the President to ever spend any of the Social Security Trust Fund on anything but Social Security or Medicare. The legislation will also assist in paying down the national debt.

"While this is great news, we must maintain our commitment to never again return to the days of raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. For this reason, we should seize this historic opportunity by getting the Social Security 'Lock Box' legislation that I introduced earlier this year signed into law. This legislation would ensure that Congress and the President could never again raid Social Security to pay for other government programs."

"Earlier this week, President Clinton put forth his own proposal that mirrors the Social Security 'Lock Box.' While 'Lock Box' legislation has passed the House, it has been held hostage in the Senate for months. It is now time for the Senate to take action and make this legislation a reality."

For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Congressman Ryan, please contact Doug McGinn at (202) 225-3031.