[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                  OLDER AMERICANS FREEDOM TO WORK ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. RONALD K. MACHTLEY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 1994

  Mr. MACHTLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
the House the Older Americans Freedom to Work Act, sponsored by my 
colleague from Illinois, Mr. Hastert.
  This legislation which seeks to liberalize the Earnings Test on 
seniors, has been introduced and has had strong support during each of 
my three terms of Congress.
  During my first term, the 101st Congress, Mr. Hastert's legislation 
had 267 cosponsors, but the bill went nowhere.
  During the 102d Congress, he collected 278 cosponsors, and the bill 
still went nowhere.
  And once again this year, this legislation has the bipartisan support 
of more than half of this body, and its time that this bill goes 
somewhere, namely to the floor of this Chamber for a vote.
  For each of my last 6 years here in Washington, I have received 
hundreds of letters and hundreds of phone calls from seniors in my 
district urging the repeal of the earnings test.
  Some argue that it unfairly penalizes seniors who want to continue to 
lead active and constructive lives by working during their retirement 
years--I agree with them.
  Others argue that it unfairly targets low-income seniors who need to 
earn extra money to supplement their Social Security checks. And I 
agree with them too.
  Mr. Speaker, the senior citizens of my district--and of this entire 
country--have gained valuable skills and experiences through their 
years in the work force.
  As a country, we should welcome and we should encourage these seniors 
to continue to work after they reach retirement age. But by all means, 
we should not penalize them.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to sign the discharge petition 
on a rule to consider the Older Americans Freedom to Work Act.
  This legislation brings real relief to America's working seniors and 
it is time for Congress to bring it to the House floor.

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