[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
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]

 
                  SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS TEST REPEAL

  (Mr. HASTERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to urge my 
colleagues to sign the discharge petition I am filing at the Speaker's 
table--Discharge Petition No. 18.
  The petition would allow Congress to consider H.R. 300, the Older 
Americans Freedom to Work Act. Although a majority of my colleagues 
support this bill, it has become clear that the Ways and Means 
Committee will not consider this important legislation before the end 
of this session of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 300 seeks to eliminate or modify the unfair Social 
Security earnings test, a penalty which reduces the Social Security 
benefits of millions of senior citizens simply because they want or 
need to continue working. Americans, age 65 to 69, who earn over 
$11,160 this year, will see their benefits reduced. And let me be 
clear, this penalty only impacts seniors who need to work--not those 
who have income from rents, dividends, or pensions.
  Our senior citizens worked years to earn these benefits. It's high 
time we recognize their years of hard work and rescind this penalty by 
supporting--and signing--this Discharge Petition No. 18.

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