Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:09 pm

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The Social Security Expansion Act would force the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share into Social Security, increase benefits for all recipients, and increase COLAs.

The Social Security Expansion Act was introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR).

Here is the summary of the bill:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.politicususa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/social-security-expansion-act-2019-summary.pdf”]

Sen. Cory Booker said, “When Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law close to 84 years ago, he called it a ‘cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete. Social Security is still that cornerstone, still the bedrock of that commitment we make to each other. But it needs to be strengthened in order to better meet the needs of our nation’s seniors. This bill does just that by increasing benefits and making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats said, “It is time to expand Social Security, not cut it. At a time when more than half of older Americans over the age of 55 have no retirement savings, our job is to expand Social Security to make sure that everyone in this country can retire with the dignity they have earned and everyone with a disability can live with the security they need.”

Rep. DeFazio (D-OR) said, “As a trained gerontologist, I have devoted my career to protecting programs and benefits vital to seniors. It has always been and continues to be my highest priority to protect Social Security. In the face of future funding challenges, we need common sense solutions in order to fully protect this vital program. It is incomprehensible that while Social Security is in financial crisis, we are allowing millionaires to stop paying into the program this week. I am proud to introduce legislation to address this disparity, increase benefits for seniors, and protect the program from partisan cuts.”

The Expand Social Security Act is about setting an agenda for 2020 and beyond

The bill isn’t going to pass in 2019. If it did get through Congress, Trump would never sign it into law. This legislation is about putting down a marker on the Democratic Party’s position on Social Security in the 2020 election. Voters can see a clear contrast. Congressional Republicans and Trump spent their two years in total control of the federal government dreaming of cutting and privatizing Social Security.

Democrats are telling the American people that not only will they protect Social Security, but they will also fight to expand it.

Protecting Social Security is no longer enough. It is time to expand the program to help those who need it most.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association