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Ryan Statement on Social Security, Medicare Financial Status Report
WASHINGTON – Wisconsin’s First
District Congressman Paul Ryan issued a statement in response to today’s release
of the Social Security Trustees’ Annual Report. According to the report, Social
Security and Medicare continue to face a mounting, and increasingly urgent,
financial crisis that threatens U.S. fiscal and economic stability. The report
also issues a third consecutive warning about the amount of funding Medicare is
drawing from resources other than its dedicated revenue. In response to the
report’s troubling yet unsurprising findings, Congressman Ryan issued the
following statement:
“The Social Security and Medicare Trustees today handed Congress a fresh
reminder of its historic opportunity to transform these programs before it’s too
late.
“Congress has known for years that our largest entitlement programs –
particularly Social Security and Medicare – simply cannot survive as currently
structured. Without reform, these programs will grow themselves right into
extinction, thereby eliminating the retirement security and health safety net
for the very people they were designed to serve.
“Congress knows it must act. If we act now, we have the opportunity to reform
these programs in a rational, well-thought-out way. We can make them better,
stronger, more responsive, more resilient, more sustainable, and more in line
with the way our economy really works. There is no reason to wait; each year of
delay increases the likelihood that Congress will be forced to make deep cuts in
benefits or raise taxes or debt to unsustainable levels.
“The alarm has been sounded – this is the third consecutive Medicare warning.
Hitting the snooze button, yet again, is not the right choice. Congress is lucky
enough to have yet another major opportunity – in the FY09 Budget Conference
Report – to do the right thing. Americans should demand we take it. Because our
actions on this issue, or lack thereof, will have an impact on these critical
programs – and our nation’s economy – for generations to come.”
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Contact: Conor Sweeney (202)
226-7326
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