This week, leaders of the National Council of Women’s Organizations came to Washington. Foremost on their agenda was the impact of Social Security reform proposals on women.

"Don't forget about us," the women declared.

I have not forgotten how my own mother would take care of us before riding the early bus to clean other people’s houses. Mother’s unwavering, weary smile as she worked with my father to raise their family and make a living is why I cannot forget that Social Security is a woman's issue.

There is no immediate danger to the nation's primary retirement and disability system, but we know that we must take action to preserve Social Security for the aging "baby boom" generation. As the Congress considers the various reform proposals, however, I will not forget that Social Security benefits are essential to the women of America.

Without Social Security, more than 50% of all women over age 65 would be living in poverty today.

During their most employable years, women earn only about 74% of what men are paid. Women are less likely to work full-time and more likely to spend time outside the paid labor force while raising children. As a result, only 26% of women over age 65 received a pension or annuity payment in 1995, and the average of those annual payments was $6,684.

We must maintain a safety net of minimum, guaranteed benefits which protects and is fair to women and minorities.

Our current Social Security benefits formula protects workers with lower lifetime earnings -including most women and minority workers. Both financial necessity and social justice demand that we retain this progressive benefits structure and continue full cost-of-living protection.

I also realize that many women need to retire at 62 in order to care for aging parents, disabled family members and retired spouses. Under current law, the "full retirement age" will gradually rise from 65 to 67. Benefits, paid at lower levels, will remain available for those who must retire at age 62.

We must avoid additional "across-the-board" benefits cuts which would further penalize women for taking care of the rest of us. We also must recognize and retain the system’s family protection provisions.

Social Security currently supports three million children and surviving parents burdened by a parent’s premature death or disability. In addition, 63% of female Social Security recipients - including widows - receive higher benefits based upon their husbands’ earning records. Widows, children and other women who were treated unfairly by the American wage system during their working years should not be forced into poverty in their old age.

Because of the importance to women of guaranteed Social Security benefits, many women have opposed proposals to reduce benefits in exchange for individual private accounts. They cite increased risk and lack of inflation protection.

I share their concerns. My mind remains open to annuity proposals - especially in the role of supplemental benefits - but only if they don’t adversely affect women.

For all of these reasons, I have cosponsored House Congressional Resolution 34. As the Congress considers proposed Social Security reforms, this legislation would bring the real life circumstances of women into account by acknowledging that women face unique obstacles to ensuring their own retirement security.