Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report

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April 23, 2007 -- "Today's report from the Social Security Trustees shows once again that the program relied upon by tens of millions of Americans is not in crisis, that the financial challenges facing the system are manageable, and even shows improvement in the long-range health of the system. While the Administration has used previous Trustees reports to portray Social Security as unsustainable and to push for privatization of the system, today's report reiterates evidence from recent years' Trustees reports that Social Security is affordable and sustainable. Taking money out of the Social Security system for private accounts would only exacerbate the system's financial challenges.

And while it is good news that the Medicare Trustees Report extends the solvency of the Medicare program by another year, rapid growth in healthcare spending continues to place unsustainable pressure on Medicare and our healthcare system overall. We must make it a priority to reduce costs and improve quality in our healthcare system. Two initiatives that I have spearheaded, the use of health information technology and allowing the Food & Drug Administration to approve safe, affordable generic versions of biologic drugs, would help achieve those important goals."

Source: Senator Hillary Clinton