[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]

 
            REPEAL THE UNFAIR SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS TEST

  (Mr. RAMSTAD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join many of our 
colleagues in calling for the repeal of the unfair Social Security 
earnings test.
  Our Nation's older workers should not be penalized for remaining 
vital participants in the work force. But that is exactly what the 
earnings test does.
  Not only does it penalize older workers, but it's also bad economic 
policy.
  These experienced workers have a lot to offer our economy. But they 
are effectively driven out of the labor market because there is so 
little incentive to remain in the workforce. In fact, it has been 
estimated that repealing the earnings test would raise the gross 
national product in our country by $15.4 billion.
  Many of these seniors are working not only because they want to, but 
because they must. The earnings test forces many capable seniors to 
rely solely on Social Security, rather than supplement their income by 
continuing to work.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to consider these facts and sign the 
discharge petition to repeal the earnings test.
  Madam Speaker, let us free our Nation's seniors from this antiquated, 
Depression-era policy. Let us bring fairness to our seniors.

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