[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        THE GREAT DEBATE OF 1994

  (Mr. GEKAS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, although part of the speech of the President 
was delegated to welfare reform, there are certain measures that we can 
take now without waiting for the great debate of 1994 on welfare 
reform.
  For instance, Mr. Speaker, do Members know that we, as taxpayers, are 
subsidizing drug addiction and drug addicts when they qualify for SSI 
payments and benefits. Because of the disability caused by drug 
addiction, many times they continue to draw their benefits, SSI, even 
though a condition was placed on them to receive drug treatment. But 
because of abuses of the system, they can go without that drug 
treatment, avoid it altogether and continue to receive benefits, 
welfare, SSI benefits from us, the taxpayers.

  We are subsidizing their addiction. On the other hand, there are some 
where the condition is not even placed on them and because of the 
disability based on drug addiction, which we could possibly cure with a 
program of treatment, the wording of the statute is such and the 
practices of this administration are such that they can go for a 
lifetime, the rest of their lives being subsidized by us, the 
taxpayers, on welfare, SSI without ever having to undergo drug 
treatment.
  We can move next week, not wait for the great debate of 1994, to cure 
this flaw in our SSI system.

                          ____________________