[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      STOP FEEDING ADDICTS HABITS

  (Mr. HERGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, most Americans were outraged that a Federal 
court recently ruled that the SSI Disability Program must pay nearly 
$20,000-plus monthly to a convicted heroin drug dealer who said he 
needed the money to support his habit.
  Drug addicts and alcoholics who receive disability benefits should be 
required to receive treatment as a condition of eligibility. Right now, 
that is not the case.
  I have introduced a companion bill to legislation which was adopted 
unanimously in the other body yesterday to streamline the disability 
program so that the Federal Government doesn't continue to feed life 
destroying addictions. It also requires a responsible party to be named 
to oversee benefits paid to addicts and alcoholics. I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor and support this much needed reform of our 
disability system.

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