[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]

 
                IT'S TIME TO ELIMINATE THE EARNINGS TEST

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of lifting the earnings 
test and urge my colleagues to sign the discharge petition filed by my 
friend from Illinois. This petition is about equity. It's about easing 
the burden of taxation on working seniors. It's a little known fact 
that older Americans who work are subject to a tax rate as high as 89 
percent. That's twice the rate of millionaires.
  In spite of overwhelming support for repealing the earnings test last 
Congress, we are nearing the close of this session and no action has 
been taken by the Ways and Means Committee. The discharge petition is 
our last avenue for action on this important issue.
  The gentleman from Illinois is introducing this discharge petition to 
force the consideration of a rule so that we may get on with 
eliminating the earnings test.
  Working seniors aged 62-64 lose $1 in benefits for every $2 earned 
over the limit of $8,040. Seniors aged 65-69 lose $1 in benefits for 
every $3 over the limit of $11,160. To penalize the most experienced of 
workers is to reduce benefits for the entire work force.
  Seniors have years of experience that would greatly add to the 
productivity of the work place, spurring billions of dollars in 
economic growth. According to the Treasury Department repealing the 
earnings test would result in $140 million increase in Federal revenue.
  The earnings limit was created during the Depression to force older 
workers out of the labor force and create job opportunities for younger 
workers. But according to the Labor Department, the work force is 
dwindling. By the year 2000, 1.5 million fewer workers between 16 and 
24 years of age will have entered the work force.
  The facts are convincing. In addition to the overwhelming 
congressional support for repealing the earnings test, seniors all over 
the country are holding out hope that Congress will finally enact a 
policy based on parity.
  Please join me in supporting equity for seniors. Sign discharge 
petition 18 today.

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