The issue is the future of Social Security. The program as we know it today will not last. It is headed for bankruptcy.

We must work together to save and strengthen Social Security not just for my father's generation but also for my daughters' generation.

Social Security modernization will result in a retirement system that is stronger and more fiscally sound than the pay-as-you-go system we have today.

I think it's an object lesson that paying the cost of Social Security in the future is going to depend upon economic growth. If you don't have growth, our pensions and other obligations are going to become unaffordable.

Just like a Social Security number can get copied today, a fingerprint could get copied tomorrow. And it's real hard to get a new fingerprint.

We can set aside a surplus to save Social Security or Medicare, or we can pass the burden of the baby boomers retirement off on to our children,