Even without reforms, the Social Security fund will be able to meet 100 percent of its obligations until 2042.

To allow all U.S. workers to put part of their earnings into private investment accounts would definitely erode the Social Security system and cause uncertainty for new investors.

Latinas' life expectancies are relatively long. When a current retiree hits 65 and begins receiving her benefit check, she can expect to live another 22 years. That life expectancy is higher than white women or men.

We must work to stabilize Social Security. We must not gamble with our nation's social insurance program, one of our most popular and effective federal programs that has remained dependable and stable for the past 70 years.

Social Security has been effective for 70 years; prior predictions of its demise have been totally overstated.

Even without reforms, the Social Security fund will be able to meet 100 percent of its obligations until 2042.

A Congressional Budget Office report released as recent as June 2004 says the system will be able to pay full benefits until 2052, and 80 percent after that.