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

We must take the time to do what needs to be done now, what is right, instead of passing a bad bill.

Almost half of all Latinas currently on Social Security rely exclusively on their benefit check in retirement.

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.

Because Social Security is specifically designed to boost the retirement income of low earners with a progressive benefit formula, the program has played an enormous and necessary role in keeping Latinas out of poverty.

There is a need for Social Security reform to ensure its stability, and Congress must act.

President Bush has consistently used rhetoric, and that is not convincing given his past record.