It’s Time to Expand Social Security

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

Before Social Security was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, more than half of the nation’s older Americans lived in poverty, as well as countless people with disabilities and surviving families of deceased workers.

Since then, in good times and bad, Social Security has paid out every benefit owed to every eligible person on time and without delay. Today in our home state of Vermont, 156,000 people receive Social Security benefits and over 90 percent of Vermonters 65 years of age or older benefit from the program. Needless to say, Social Security is an essential program for Vermonters and for people around the country – especially low and moderate income seniors whose income is largely dependent on Social Security.

Despite the importance of Social Security to so many Americans, there are many in Congress who want to cut Social Security benefits or raise the age of eligibility. I will vigorously oppose those efforts.

That’s why, as Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, I held a committee hearing to discuss how we can work together to expand – not cut – Social Security. You can watch my opening remarks at the hearing below.

Legislation I introduced this month would expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and fully fund the program for the next 75 years – all WITHOUT raising taxes by one penny on over 93 percent of American households. We do that by lifting the cap on taxable Social Security income which is now at $147,000. Frankly, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, it is absurd that billionaires contribute the same amount into Social Security as someone making $147,000 a year.

Let me be clear. Our job in Congress is not to cut Social Security. Our job is to expand it so that everyone in Vermont and across the country can retire with the dignity that they deserve.

Sincerely,





P.S. If you need assistance resolving an issue with your Social Security benefit, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office through our website or by phone at 802-862-0697 or 1-800-339-9834.