Skip to ContentText OnlyGo to Search
Welcome to the White HousePresidentNewsVice PresidentHistory & ToursFirst LadyMrs. Cheney
Welcome to the White HouseGovernmentKids OnlyEspanolContactPrivacy PolicySiteMapSearch
Welcome to the White HouseReceive Email Updates
 

Issues
Economy
Iraq
Education
National Security
Homeland Security
More Issues
En Español

News
Current News
Press Briefings
Proclamations
Executive Orders
Radio
  
News by Date
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001

Appointments
Nominations
Application

 

Photo Essays
Photo Essays
Search photos by date

 

White House Features - A Gallery of our special pages
  
Federal Facts
Federal Statistics
  
West Wing
History
 Home > News & Policies > March 2003
Printer-Friendly Version
Email this page

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 17, 2003

Statement by the President
On the 2003 Report of the Social Security Trustees

I commend the Social Security Board of Trustees for their hard work on their annual report.

As in last year's report, the Trustees confirmed that benefits for today's seniors are safe and secure. Promises made can and will be kept. The Trustees also once again have delivered a sobering message -- Social Security, in its present form, is unsustainable for the long term. I share the Trustees' view that we need to explore new ways to ensure that Social Security remains strong and financially secure for America's children and grandchildren.

I am encouraged by the unprecedented level of bipartisan interest in Social Security modernization. Many comprehensive proposals have been put forward to strengthen Social Security for the long term. Although these proposals differ in details, they are consistent in showing that if we give workers the opportunity to invest a portion of their wages in personal accounts, Social Security will be able to offer higher benefits than would otherwise be the case.

To repeat what I told Congress in the State of the Union address this year: "As we continue to work together to keep Social Security strong and reliable, we must offer younger workers a chance to invest in retirement accounts that they will control and they will own."

Social Security protects beneficiaries with disabilities, retirees, widows, and widowers. It also affects the lives of millions of taxpaying workers, the beneficiaries of tomorrow. As the report makes clear, Social Security faces long term problems that demand bipartisan solutions.

I hope that Members of Congress will join with the Social Security Administration and other interested parties in a national dialogue about how best to strengthen and protect Social Security. I look forward to working with Congress to see that Social Security remains sound and strong for today's and tomorrow's retirees.

###


Printer-Friendly Version
Email this page



President  |  Vice President  |  First Lady  |  Mrs. Cheney  |  News & Policies  | 
History & ToursKids  |  Your Government  |  Appointments  |  JobsContactText only


Accessibility  |  Search  |  Privacy Policy  |  Help