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Congressman Paul Tonko today pledged to protect and strengthen Social Security during a celebration marking the 75th birthday of the program, which he co-hosted with Albany County Executive Mike Breslin. More than 50 seniors attended the event, which was held at the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center on Whitehall Road.

“Social Security is a bedrock promise that is earned with a lifetime of hard work, and has kept millions of seniors out of poverty,” said Congressman Tonko. “I am committed to preserving the economic security of our seniors by protecting and strengthening Social Security, and fighting efforts to privatize the program.”

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin said, “Social Security is the only source income for many seniors and individuals with disabilities and provides the support they need to maintain their independence and dignity. I salute Congressman Paul Tonko for his leadership in fighting to preserve this critical program.”

More than 50 million Americans rely on Social Security’s guaranteed benefits for retirement security or to make ends meet, put food on the table and stay in their homes. Six in ten seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income.

For 75 years Democrats have fought Republican efforts to cut back and even destroy Social Security. In 2005, Republicans tried to dismantle and privatize the program. Now, Congressional Republicans are at it again, with the same plan to privatize and cut Social Security. Their plan would cut Social Security survivor benefits for middle class workers and divert trillions of dollars from the Social Security Trust Fund into private accounts, subjecting the retirement security of seniors to the ups and downs of Wall Street.

In the wake of the current economic crisis, Social Security is more important than ever.  Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, Social Security was created at a time when the American economy had crumbled and was struggling to recover. Pensions were almost non-existent, and a majority of seniors were unable to support themselves after retirement. Thanks to Social Security, millions of seniors today can live their lives with dignity and independence instead of poverty and despair. 
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