WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight responsibility for the Social Security Administration (SSA), released the following remarks in advance of the Senate confirmation vote for Andrew M. Saul to be Commissioner of Social Security for the term expiring on January 19, 2025.
“Later today, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Andrew Saul to be the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The Senate Finance Committee with a bipartisan, unanimous vote has twice previously approved Mr. Saul – earlier this year (28-0) and last year (27-0). I look forward to working with Mr. Saul on behalf of the 63 millions of Americans who currently rely on Social Security for retirement, survivor and disability benefits, and especially on behalf of the thousands who work at the Social Security Headquarters in Woodlawn, Md.
“Every time I visit the federal workers at Woodlawn, I am reminded of their diligence, skill and dedication to the people they serve. No other nation can match our public workforce’s professionalism and level of accomplishment. Once the Senate confirms Mr. Saul, I intend to hold him accountable for how he and the SSA treat its workers as well as its beneficiaries. Both relationships are in dire need of improvement. Foremost, I will hold Mr. Saul to his word that he will work to restore a constructive, positive relationship between labor and management at SSA. I also expect him to continue to modernize the disability claims system and SSA’s outdated and fragile IT infrastructure.
“Congress has long recognized the importance of Social Security as one of the pillars of retirement savings. One out of every six U.S. residents collects Social Security benefits – equal to approximately five percent of America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Social Security includes 176 million covered workers, and its program receipts and expenditures involve trillions of dollars. It has been nearly six years since the Social Security Administration has had a confirmed commissioner – long-term, stable leadership at the SSA has been sorely missed.”
###
