[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'S BONUS SYSTEM: WHO PAYS?

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, like most Americans I was upset to learn 
that $32 million for bonus performance awards was given out by the 
Social Security Administration while at the same time this agency was 
asking Congress for an additional $200 million to facilitate the 
processing of disability benefit claims.
  During testimony given by officials from the Social Security 
Administration before Congress they stated that none of the $200 
million set aside by Congress to help with the disability backlog came 
from this fund. I share the sentiments expressed by my colleagues on 
the House Ways and Means Committee who sharply criticized the Social 
Security Administration for engaging in this type of practice. In fact, 
one employee who had only been employed by the Social Security 
Administration for 2\1/2\ months received a bonus of $9,256
  All this has come at time when we are being told that tax increases 
will be needed to ensure the future solvency of the Social Security 
Program.
  We are telling our senior citizens that they will have to once again 
sacrifice in order to keep this program solvent. I wonder what the vast 
majority of Social Security recipients must think when they read about 
these bonuses.

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