ICYMI: Social Security Commissioner O’Malley details how House Republican CR would worsen SSA service and wait times
Murray: “We have to remember that promises like Social Security aren’t magic words—they don’t keep themselves, they don’t run themselves, they don’t fund themselves. Keeping our promise requires the hard work of public servants at the Social Security Administration and that requires federal funding.”
***VIDEO of Senator Murray’s Remarks at the Hearing***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), senior member and former Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, spoke at a hearing on how staffing shortages and funding challenges at the Social Security Administration (SSA) have made it harder for people across the country to get the benefits they have earned. Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley testified at the hearing about how the Social Security Administration is struggling to address service needs as the agency faces its lowest staffing levels in more than 50 years. In her remarks, Senator Murray spoke pointedly about how constituents she has heard from have spent months trying to schedule an appointment with the SSA regarding their benefits.
“I fight hard every year to make sure we secure necessary funding for the Social Security Administration and I’m always pushing for more because I hear personally from so many constituents who are fighting their own long, uphill battles trying to get help,” said Senator Murray. “We have to remember that promises like Social Security aren’t magic words—they don’t keep themselves, they don’t run themselves, they don’t fund themselves. Keeping our promise requires the hard work of public servants at the Social Security Administration and that requires federal funding.”
Senator Murray also outlined how House Republican proposals over the years would undermine benefits overall, and undermine the SSA’s ability to help get those benefits to people. Republicans’ 2025 plans, such as the Republican Study Committee budget, suggest cutting benefits for some citizens and raising the retirement age. Meanwhile the Republican House funding bill for FY-25 would mean significant cuts to the agency, especially compared to the bipartisan Senate bill which provided nearly $1 billion more for SSA than House Republicans proposed in their bill—as Commissioner O’Malley made clear in response to a question from Senator Murray. Senator Murray also warned that House Republicans’ proposed six-month CR would worsen service and wait times by leaving the SSA with the lowest staffing levels in 50 years—a concern echoed by Commissioner O’Malley in a letter to Republican members of Congress yesterday.
“Every time House Republicans propose blanket, across the board cuts to domestic spending or an extended CR that would leave SSA at its lowest staffing levels in more than 50 years—they are in effect proposing more seniors waiting longer and longer for benefits they were promised and getting less help,” Senator Murray warned. “That is just not acceptable to me. It’s not what we promised our families.”
Senator Murray additionally advocated for the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which unfairly reduce pensions for some public servants like teachers, police officers, and state, county and local government workers. The provisions currently effect almost 2.3 million Americans across the country and over 40,000 people in Washington state. Murray once again co-sponsored a bill to repeal these provisions in 2023.
Senator Murray has an extensive record of protecting Social Security benefits and fighting to secure essential funding for the SSA. In August, under Murray’s leadership as Chair, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act which includes $14.7 billion for the SSA—a $509 million increase over Fiscal Year 2024. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security and have earned benefits over lifetimes of work. Half of seniors rely on Social Security for most of their income and a quarter of seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their income.
At another Senate Budget Committee hearing last July, Senator Murray outlined Democratic efforts to protect benefits, and strengthen Social Security’s long term financial footing while contrasting that with efforts from GOP leaders to slash funding.
Video of Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning at the hearing HERE.
Senator Murray’s opening remarks as delivered are below:
“Thank you, very much Chair Whitehouse. Governor, good to see you—thank you for the job you are doing.
“Social Security is more than a lifeline, it really is a promise we make to the American people: If you work hard, the benefits you earned will be there for you when you retire, and if you have a disability, you will not be left out on your own. We have an enormous responsibility to do everything we can to protect this program for the future—and make sure that right now, today, it is working for folks back home.
“Now, when it comes to the future, there are straightforward ways to strengthen Social Security by making it a little fairer. Right now, someone making a billion dollars a year, pays the exact same amount into Social Security as someone making $170,000. We could fix that so the wealthiest people no longer have the smallest Social Security tax rate. Sounds simple and sounds fair. But instead, the Republicans’ 2025 plans—like the Republican Study Committee budget—call for raising the retirement age and cutting benefits for some people.
“Democrats have been very clear, we are not going to let anyone weaken benefits or break our promise—not for seniors today, and certainly not for seniors tomorrow. I want to see us do more to live up to our promise for people who are getting benefits right now. Like repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset that actually unfairly reduce those pensions for hardworking public servants. That would help over 40,000 people in my home state and millions more nationwide—including many of our current retirees.
“And, as Chair of Appropriations I have to underscore: keeping our promise isn’t just about how Social Security is structured, it is about adequately funding the office charged with executing on that promise. I fight hard every year to make sure we secure necessary funding for the Social Security Administration and I’m always pushing for more because I hear personally from so many constituents who are fighting their own long, uphill battles trying to get help.
“I had one constituent who was trying to sign up for Medicare: First, she was told she couldn’t sign up online, then, she was told she would receive an appointment email in 30 days. She waited 45 days. No update. Called and was told to call again in 10 days. 14 more days—no update. She calls and is directed to the local office.
“Now I want to be clear—we have very hard dedicated public servants at the local SSA office. They work very hard to help our constituents—but the problem is here, we do not have enough of them. Because for her, there was no opening through October, and no guarantee she’ll get an appointment after that given how many others are waiting in line. Mind you, she first reached out in July.
“She is not alone—not in Washington, where I know other constituents have been trying to get an appointment since May, and not across the country, where I have no doubt other families are facing similar challenges.
“So we have to remember that promises like Social Security aren’t magic words—they don’t keep themselves, they don’t run themselves, they don’t fund themselves. Keeping our promise requires the hard work of public servants at the Social Security Administration and that requires federal funding.
“Every time House Republicans propose blanket, across the board cuts to domestic spending or an extended CR that would leave SSA at its lowest staffing levels in more than 50 years—they are in effect, proposing more seniors waiting longer and longer for benefits they were promised and getting less help. That is just not acceptable to me. It’s not what we promised our families, and I’m really glad we have the opportunity today to talk about what is required to deliver this promise to our constituents.”
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