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Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) commemorated the 87th anniversary of Social Security with a commitment to protect and strengthen the program in the face of attempts to undermine and privatize it. 
 
“Social Security is a part of the fabric of who we are in America and how we care for our seniors,” said Rep. Dingell. “We made a promise to our seniors that when they worked hard all their life, as they grew older, they would be able to retire with dignity and respect. Now more than ever is the time to build upon Social Security and ensure it is strong, not undercut its funding or privatize it.”
 
“As one of the original authors of Social Security in the 1930s, my father-in-law knew that more than half the seniors in this country, widows, children, and people with disabilities were living in poverty, not knowing how they were going to eat or where they were going to live – a problem that we also see today,” continued Rep. Dingell. “But America found its conscience and gave a helping hand to those who needed it.”
 
“Social Security was created on the promise that no American will grow poor in retirement – a promise of economic security and dignity after a life of hard work, and a promise that no one will be left behind,” concluded Rep. Dingell. “It’s up to Congress to make sure we keep that promise.”
 
Nearly 140,000 people in Michigan’s 12th District rely on Social Security programs. Co-authored by Rep. Dingell’s father-in-law John Dingell Sr., and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, Social Security is the primary source of retirement income for just over 3 out of 5 seniors. It also provides protections to disabled workers and families who have lost a breadwinner.
 
As co-chair of the Expand Social Security Caucus and Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging and Families, Rep. Dingell has long been an advocate for strengthening and expanding Social Security. She introduced the Social Security 2100 Act with her colleagues to provide a benefit bump for new and current beneficiaries, protect low-income workers by raising the minimum benefit from below the poverty line to 25% above, and implement long term protection against inflation for cost-of-living adjustments.

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