[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1994

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                               speech of

                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 1994

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 
4278 and its amendments to the Social Security Act.
  This bill would stop the unconscionable practice of providing Social 
Security checks to the criminally insane while they're incarcerated in 
a psychiatric facility or prison.
  You may find it hard to believe that individuals who commit some of 
society's most heinous crimes are entitled to collect a monthly Social 
Security check if they were found not guilty of a crime by reason of 
insanity. But it's true.
  Not only is this an outrage to all hard-working, law-abiding citizen, 
it poses a real danger to the public safety.
  In my home State of New Jersey, Herbert Ollson was confined to a 
state psychiatric facility after brutally stabbing his parents. While 
incarcerated, he collected over $9,000 in Social Security checks. 
Ollson used that money to entice two friends to help him escape. For 
five days, this extremely dangerous individual lived the high life, 
using taxpayer money to buy illegal drugs, before he was captured.
  This case is not an isolated incident.
  The bill before us would put an end to this scandalous and dangerous 
practice. I urge my colleagues to support it.

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