Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Social Security, which President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed into law on August 14, 1935.
“Today, we celebrate a promise made to our seniors 80 years ago – a promise of economic security and dignity for every American after a lifetime of hard work.
“Social Security is now part of who we are as a country and how we care for our seniors. Two out of every three retirees rely on Social Security for the majority of their income, and millions of families depend on the program for disability or survivor benefits after the loss of a loved one. Most importantly, in 80 years Social Security has never missed a payment. That is something we can all be proud of.
“As we mark this landmark anniversary, we recognize that Social Security faces new challenges. We have to ensure that the program is on solid financial footing so that the next generation can have access to these critical benefits as they age. But we also need to strengthen the program so it is more responsive to the needs of our seniors. Our seniors have done so much for our country, and it is our obligation as a nation to make sure this bedrock program is meeting their needs – today and for generations to come.”
This week, Congresswoman Dingell and former Congressman John Dingell joined health scholars at the University of Michigan to mark the 80th anniversary of Social Security and the 50th anniversary of Medicare. John Dingell’s father, John Dingell, Sr. cosponsored the legislation that created Social Security and over the years, both Dingells fought to protect the program and make it sustainable for the future.
