Published April 1985 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Social Security: An American Priority I recently received a poignant letter from one of my constituents in West Virginia on the subject of Social Security. "We depend on this so much," the writer said. "When my husband retired (he's also ill) we never dreamed we'd live in such fear. Our children are in no position to help us; with the steel mills not working, they are having many problems with their young families. Please help." That letter, one of many pleas for help that I have received from elderly West Virginians, illustrates clearly why I am opposed to a so-called "freeze" on Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs. Social Security is a bedrock of support for many elderly Americans. I hear every day from West Virginians who are worried and confused over what is happening to their Social Security benefits. These people have reason to be concerned. Despite continuous promises from the President that he would never reduce Social Security benefits to current recipients, he has joined with Senate Republicans in proposing a budget that would do just that. Under the Administration-backed proposal, hundreds of thousands of elderly Americans could fall into poverty. These people cannot afford to be abandoned by their government, and I for one am willing to use every means available to block efforts like this to reduce Social Security COLAs. Many elderly Americans, such as the West Virginia woman whose letter I quoted above, take pains to point out that they need Social Security because their children cannot afford to support them. In fact, many working Americans, through their own Social Security payments, are contributing to the support of their parents. This is part of what makes the Social Security system work. With proper management, guided by proper priorities, we can honor our promises to the elderly Americans who depend on Social Security. As another West Virginian wrote, ''Extravagant projects could wait, but old folks haven't the time to wait for food and medical care." Many elderly Americans share that opinion. Social Security is a priority with them, as it is with the family members who cannot afford to support them. Social Security is also a priority with me, and it is a program I will continue to fight to protect. April 24, 1985