[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 14 (Friday, February 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS

  (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, I may agree with those who are saying that it 
is not our health care system that is in crisis but, rather, our 
welfare system that is in crisis, when I have learned and have now 
acted upon, as many others have, on the proposition that the Social 
Security SSI benefits that are paid to drug addicts may be 
inadvertently using taxpayers' money to continue their habits. It is 
true that a drug addict or an alcohol abuser can qualify for SSI 
benefits and then not undergo treatment, because it is loosely 
administered, and then go on for life feeding his habit at our expense.
  To continue to pay benefits to someone without treating him to get 
him off the habit means a lifelong support by the taxpayers of drug 
addicts. We have to change that.
  Worst, in some of the programs, it is possible for the drug addict to 
name a representative payee so that the checks of benefits can go to 
that payee to help him get off his drug addiction. But he can name the 
payee. It is possible, and we think we have anecdotal evidence, that 
the drug addict names his bartender as the representative payee, and 
then they both go along using taxpayers' money to feed the habit.
  We have some proposals now before the Congress to end that. We need 
welfare reform and, if we can get it now, we do not have to wait for 
the administration's proposal.

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