[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 209 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 209

Honoring the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program upon 
   the 60th anniversary of the enactment of the Social Security Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 2, 1995

  Mr. Bunning of Kentucky (for himself and Mr. Jacobs) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 
                                 Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program upon 
   the 60th anniversary of the enactment of the Social Security Act.
Whereas on August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, 
        which represents one of the most significant legislative achievements of 
        the 20th century;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, established in 
        its original form in the enactment of the Social Security Act, 
        represents a national commitment between the American Government and the 
        people;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program is one of our 
        Nation's most popular and effective programs, with a track record of 
        nearly 60 years;
Whereas 141,000,000 persons, along with their employers, pay into the old-age, 
        survivors, and disability insurance program;
Whereas a benefit under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program 
        is an earned benefit for workers and their families when a wage earner 
        retires, becomes disabled, or dies;
Whereas over 44,000,000 persons, including 3,000,000 children, receive benefits 
        under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program that are 
        automatically adjusted against erosion by inflation;
Whereas over 95 percent of those aged 65 and over are eligible for benefits 
        under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, 4 out of 
        5 workers have worked long enough so that they could get benefits under 
        the program if they became severely disabled, and 98 percent of today's 
        children would receive a monthly benefit under the program if a working 
        parent died;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program provides a 
        floor of retirement income, to be supplemented by private savings and 
        pensions;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program is the Nation's 
        most successful anti-poverty program, saving 15,000,000 persons from 
        poverty;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program is viewed by 
        the public as one of the very most important Government programs and as 
        a pillar of economic security;
Whereas benefits under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program 
        help to maintain the independence and dignity of all who receive them;
Whereas the American public has rejected cutting benefits under the old-age, 
        survivors, and disability insurance program to reduce the Federal 
        deficit;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program is a self-
        financed program that, in 1994, had over $436,000,000,000 in reserves; 
        and
Whereas reforms of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program 
        historically have been made only to strengthen the program's long-term 
        integrity and solvency: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, originating 
with the enactment of the Social Security Act, should be maintained and 
that any changes to the program should be made only to preserve 
benefits and strengthen the long-term solvency and integrity of the 
program, which has provided economic security for tens of millions of 
Americans of all ages.
                                 <all>