Toledo, Ohio, August 14, 2024: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) joined the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging to celebrate 89 years of Social Security and to voice opposition to efforts to cut benefits and raise the retirement age in exchange for tax breaks for the wealthy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law 89 years ago, on August 14, 1935. The Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio supports the Social Security Administration’s mission by providing key services and support to people as they go through a transitional period of life. Congresswoman Kaptur is an original co-lead of the Social Security 2100 Act, which would provide an across-the-board benefit increase for the first time in more than 50 years, improve the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that currently penalize many public servants, and improve customer service at the Social Security Administration while ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share.
“89 years ago today, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. In the 89 years since, Social Security has provided our most comprehensive retirement, disability, and survivors benefits,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “Republican leadership has introduced no plan to protect the program 70 million Americans rely on. They continue to push for cuts and more than 170 current House Republicans have endorsed a budget that would raise the retirement age while delivering more tax breaks for the wealthy. The overwhelming majority of Americans believe we should enhance Social Security benefits, not cut them.
“I introduced the Social Security 2100 Act with 188 of my colleagues because I know how important this savings program is to the 175,000 Social Security recipients across Ohio’s 9th Congressional District. I am working to assure a safe and secure retirement for millions of Americans in their golden years, which includes supporting an across-the-board benefit increase for the first time in more than 50 years, improving the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that currently penalize many public servants, and improving customer service at the Social Security Administration while ensuring that Billionaires and Millionaires pay their fair share. I will continue to protect and enhance Social Security for our seniors, veterans, and children and defend it against any plans to slash benefits or raise the retirement age. For nearly a century, America has kept its promise to Seniors upon retirement — I continue to fight to protect that earned benefit,” Congresswoman Kaptur concluded.