[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 52 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 52

Urging that the railroad industry, including rail labor, management and 
   retiree organizations, open discussions for adequately funding an 
    amendment to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to modify the 
guaranteed minimum benefit for widows and widowers whose annuities are 
         converted from a spouse to a widow or widower annuity.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 1997

Mr. Quinn (for himself, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Foglietta, Mr. Rahall, Mr. 
 Lucas of Oklahoma, Mr. Flake, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Klink, Mr. Doyle, Mr. 
    Kleczka, Ms. Danner, Mr. Vento, and Mr. Kucinich) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Urging that the railroad industry, including rail labor, management and 
   retiree organizations, open discussions for adequately funding an 
    amendment to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to modify the 
guaranteed minimum benefit for widows and widowers whose annuities are 
         converted from a spouse to a widow or widower annuity.

Whereas, for years, many in the railroad industry have argued that annuities 
        paid to widows and widowers under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 
        are inadequate;
Whereas during the lifetime of the employee and the spouse, the employee 
        receives a full annuity and so does the spouse;
Whereas, however, after the employee's death, only a widow's or widower's 
        annuity is payable, which under current law is no less than that widow 
        or widower received as a spouse in the month before the employee's 
        death;
Whereas this widow's or widower's annuity is often found inadequate and leaves 
        the survivor with less than the amount of income needed to meet ordinary 
        and necessary living expenses; and
Whereas no outside contributions from the American taxpayer are needed, and any 
        changes will be paid for from within the railroad industry itself: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress of the United States recognizes the 
        concern of many in the railroad industry that the spousal 
        annuity under the current system is inadequate and often leaves 
        the survivor with less than the amount of income needed to meet 
        ordinary and necessary living expenses;
            (2) the Congress of the United States also recognizes that 
        a process of dialogue must take place among all parties of the 
        railroad community including rail labor, management and retiree 
        organizations before railroad annuity legislation can be 
        enacted; and
            (3) because of the self-sufficient and unique nature of the 
        Railroad Retirement System, Congress urges and exhorts all 
        parties of the railroad community, including rail labor, 
        management and retiree organizations to find a suitable way to 
        fund an amendment that would improve the survivor benefits 
        component to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974.
                                 <all>