Statement to honor and recognize Bob Ball

U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) submitted the following statement today on the life of Robert Ball, America's longest serving Social Security Commissioner:

Mr. PRESIDENT. I rise today to recognize and honor the life of Robert Ball. Bob Ball has been a champion of America's elderly since 1939, helping to guide and strengthen our Social Security system for nearly 70 years. He was America's longest serving Social Security commissioner, overseeing improvements to benefits such as the introduction of automatic cost-of-living adjustments.  Today, about a third of our nation's elderly rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their income, and two-thirds count on it to supply at least half of their income. It has been America's most successful anti-poverty program ever, due in no small part to Bob's influence.

While he is little known outside Washington, Bob played a critical role in the origins of our most recognizable government programs. His work led to the introduction of Social Security disability insurance, and now because of him more than 7 million Americans who can't work due to a disability can still live in dignity. He helped create our Medicare system, which now provides healthcare to more than 40 million elderly Americans. Even as he became a Social Security recipient himself, he continued to defend the program against benefit cuts and privatization proposals. There is no question that Robert Ball's work has improved the lives of millions of Americans. His character, wisdom, and leadership will be greatly missed.