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.

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

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.

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.

For people who have for been putting their hard-earned money into the system for years, the president's idea would replace their safety net with a risky gamble with no assurance of a stable return of investment.

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

Our Hispanic community needs to understand how important the Social Security system is for not only its retired citizens, but also its disabled workers.