Social Security Reached its 80th year on Friday, while GOP hopefuls continue to undermine the program that has been in effect for eight decades.

"Eighty years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, creating a promise that elderly Americans would be guaranteed an opportunity to retire with dignity after a lifetime of hard work," Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said in a statement.

Wasserman Schultz would also critique the Republican presidential field on the same occasion.

"Presidential candidates like Rand Paul and Chris Christie have suggested raising the retirement age, pushing the prospect of a secure retirement further out of reach for many Americans," Wasserman Schultz added. "Jeb Bush supported his brother's plan to partially privatize Social Security, putting Americans at risk of losing their retirement savings with the ups and downs of Wall Street."

Meanwhile, Republican presidential hopeful and Ohio Gov. John Kasich suggested that Baby Boomers be cut from Social Security benefits at a time where the generation has already reached retirement age. Baby Boomers have also started to depend on those same benefits that they have already earned.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley called for expanding Social Security on its 80th anniversary. In a statement, O'Malley said, "Social Security is one of our nation's greatest achievements, and for decades has helped to ensure seniors and the disabled achieve economic security and live with dignity."

"For too long, we have been having the wrong conversation about Social Security. Republicans-and even some Democrats-have advocated for cutting benefits, rather than expanding them," he added.

Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on Aug. 14, 1935. While most people may think that the act only supports retired people, a fifth of the 60 million citizens receiving Social Security benefits are disabled workers and their dependents or young survivors of deceased workers.

Social Security benefits are based on workers' earnings histories and provide a foundation retirement protection for nearly every American.

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