Congressman Tierney believes we must strengthen Social Security to preserve the long-term viability of this important program. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has certified that Social Security is capable of paying full benefits to all retirement, survivor and disability beneficiaries through 2052. While economic growth can extend that period, he believes we should work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen Social Security without adding to our national debt. Privatization as proposed by President Bush is not the answer. Working together, as was done in the 1980s, Members of Congress can craft an acceptable proposal from the several well-known suggestions generally under consideration.