[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4277, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM 
                              ACT OF 1994

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of 
Friday, August 5, 1994, I call up the conference report to accompany 
the bill (H.R. 4277) to establish the Social Security Administration as 
an independent agency and to make other improvements in the old-age 
survivors and disability insurance program.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). Pursuant to the rule, the 
conference report is considered as read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of Thursday, 
August 4, 1994, at page H6843).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs] will 
be recognized for 30 minutes, and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer] 
will be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs].
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Pickle].
  (Mr. PICKLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PICKLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Jacobs] for yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4277, the Social 
Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994.
  Title I of this bill establishes the Social Security Administration 
as a separate, independent agency. This is a landmark step in the 
continuing effort to make sure that the Social Security System is 
properly and impartially administered.
  For too long the Social Security Administration has been caught in 
the middle of political and budgetary disputes. This legislation will 
go a long way to protecting the agency from the crossfire of partisan 
politics. In my judgment, granting SSA independent agency status will 
promote long-term stability in the Social Security Program. Such 
stability is essential in this program which provides basic retirement 
income security for almost every American worker.
  I particularly want to commend Chairman Jacobs and Mr. Bunning for 
their tenacity in advancing this legislation. The issue of independent 
agency status for the Social Security Administration has been the 
subject of many studies, reviews, and House votes over the years. In 
fact, yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the day, August 10, 
1984, that I, joined by Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, first introduced 
legislation to grant SSA independent status. The conference report 
before us today will finally make real the intent of that first bill 
which we introduced a decade ago. While it has been a long time coming, 
it has been worth the wait. And I think that Republicans and Democrats, 
who have consistently supported this reform over the past decade, and 
here I want to especially note the unwavering support of Mr. Archer, 
all should take great pride in the ultimate attainment of our goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to call the Members attention two 
other provisions of the bill which address problems encountered in the 
SSI disability program.
  The first provision deals with the granting of disability benefits in 
situations involving middlemen who are fraudulently causing millions of 
dollars in benefits to be paid to people who are feigning mental 
disorders. Section 206 of the conference report, which was proposed by 
myself, and Messrs. Harold Ford, Houghton, and Santorum, will help to 
prevent this fraud by: Insuring accurate translations of interviews 
conducted by SSA officials; establishing streamlined procedures for 
terminating fraudulently obtained SSI benefits; and increasing civil 
and criminal sanctions available to SSA in SSI fraud cases.
  The second provision deals with the continued payment of SSI 
disability benefits to recipients who are no longer disabled. Under 
current law there is no requirement for SSA to conduct continuing 
disability reviews for SSI recipients, even in cases where it is 
anticipated that the medical condition of the beneficiary will improve. 
The failure to conduct these disability reviews has led to the payment 
of hundreds of millions of dollars each year to people who are no 
longer disabled. Section 208 of the conference report, which is the 
result of a proposal advanced by Mr. Herger and myself, requires SSA to 
conduct disability reviews for at least 100,000 SSI recipients per year 
for the next 3 years, and to report the results of such reviews to 
Congress no later than October 1, 1998.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to conclude by complimenting the leadership of 
the Committee on Ways and Means for this very solid piece of 
legislation. Chairman Gibbons and subcommittee Chairmen Jacobs and 
Ford, working closely with Mr. Archer, Mr. Bunning, and Mr. Santorum, 
have crafted a bill which will significantly improve the operations of 
the Social Security Administration. Its immediate enactment will be a 
credit to us all, and I urge that all Members vote for these important 
reforms.
  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. ARCHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased to be here today, in 
support of the conference agreement on H.R. 4277, which represents the 
culmination of congressional action I helped initiate over a decade 
ago.
  The Social Security System has always been extremely important to me. 
It's one of the very few Government agencies that most Americans have 
direct contact with and it's likely that many of our constituents 
measure the way Government performs generally by the way Social 
Security performs when they need it.
  Bringing soundness to the Social Security System has been one of my 
chief legislative priorities since I was elected to Congress. We owe it 
not just to our senior citizens, but to our children and the 
obligations we leave them. That is the reason that I chose to become 
the ranking Republican on the Social Security Subcommittee when it was 
first created.
  It is also the reason that I sponsored the first House bill creating 
an independent Social Security Administration with my colleague from 
Texas [Mr. Pickle], was then the subcommittee's first chairman. I 
commend the work of my colleagues, Jim Bunning and Andy Jacobs, for 
carrying through that earlier work. Their efforts have been invaluable.
  Mr. Speaker, making Social Security independent will not solve all of 
its problems, but I believe that freeing it from the layers of 
bureaucracy imposed on it by HHS will go a long way in making it less 
political, more responsive, and more accountable. It is also critical 
to its survival as a vital public service agency which administers the 
most important social program ever enacted.
  The 1983 Social Security Commission, on which I served, recommended a 
study to make Social Security an independent agency, a recommendation 
that became part of the 1983 Social Security Amendments. Former 
Comptroller General Elmer Staats headed up the study panel, which 
recommended that an independent Social Security Administration be run 
by a single administrator, backed by a bipartisan advisory board. I am 
very pleased that the conference approved the form of administrative 
leadership specified in the bill introduced by the ranking Republican 
on the Social Security Subcommittee, Mr. Bunning. His bill provided the 
same form of leadership as was endorsed by the experts on the Staats 
panel.
  I believe that the seven-member bipartisan advisory board will plan a 
critical role making Social Security less political and in improving 
the public's confidence in the Social Security System.
  This board will be independent of the Social Security Administration 
and Government in general. It will be made up of individuals who share 
a knowledge of the Social Security System as well as a strong desire to 
restore it to its former status as a premier public service agency 
which enjoyed the public's respect and confidence.
  One of the most important jobs the Board will have is to increase the 
public's understanding of the Social Security System. I hope that as a 
result of the Board's efforts the average citizen will have more 
confidence in the Social Security System, and will become more aware of 
the need to plan and save overall.
  The bipartisan, nongovernmental advisory board will play a vital role 
in both protecting the public's interest in Social Security and 
providing the public truthful information about their stake in the 
system.
  The conference agreement contains other provisions that are important 
to average Americans, who strongly support Social Security, but want 
benefits to go to only those who are entitled to them. Thanks to the 
persistence of two House conferees, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Pickle] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum], the 
agreement tightens up on SSI disability benefits by requiring Social 
Security to review cases to make sure recipients are still disabled.
  It also starts to tighten up on payments to drug addicts and 
alcoholics by putting a 3-year limit on benefits, and by requiring that 
during that time recipients undergo treatment and be paid only through 
a responsible third party. These restrictions should provide an 
incentive for addicts and alcoholics to get their lives back on track. 
I know that average Americans and health professionals alike object to 
helping addicts and alcoholics fuel their addictions by giving them 
cash benefits, and I look forward to working with the subcommittee and 
committee to take further action on these issues.
  Mr. Speaker, I join Chairman Gibbons, subcommittee Chairman Jacobs, 
and our Republican leader on Social Security, Mr. Bunning, in strongly 
supporting this conference agreement.

                              {time}  1240

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Rostenkowski].
  (Mr. ROSTENKOWSKI asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. ROSTENKOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, for more than a decade, the Committee 
on Ways and Means has been seeking to give the Social Security 
Administration independence.
  Our goal has been to restore the agency's mission of excellence, and 
protect SSA from short-term political pressures.
  I have been a long-time proponent of this legislation. The House has 
passed the bill four times by overwhelming margins.
  Now that the Senate has at last joined us in this effort, we are 
about to make our goal a reality.
  Social Security is our Nation's most successful program. There is no 
more effective way to signify this program's importance than to give 
SSA independent status.
  H.R. 4277 also includes a provision to restrict disability payments 
to drug addicts and alcoholics.
  It would do this by paying through a responsible third party, 
requiring beneficiaries to participate in treatment, and applying time 
limits on benefits.
  These are important reforms that would assure that Social Security 
and SSI benefits are used as intended--to cover the cost of basic 
necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a historic moment for Social Security and the 
successful end of a decade-long effort by the Committee on Ways and 
Means.
  I commend my colleagues for their hard work, and I look forward to 
the improvements in service to Social Security beneficiaries that this 
legislation will bring.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BUNNING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise enthusiastically in support of H.R. 
4277 and urge my colleagues to join me in once again approving this 
monumental piece of legislation to restore independence to the Social 
Security Administration.
  We owe a special thanks to our Social Security Subcommittee chairman, 
Mr. Jacobs, who has shown great leadership and dedication in the 
development of this bill as has our ranking member, Mr. Archer, who has 
been unwavering in his support on this issue for over a decade.
  And, of course, the acting chairman of the full committee, Mr. 
Gibbons, deserves recognition for shepherding this legislation through 
conference.
  In fact, all the conferees and staff who worked at ironing out the 
final bill that is now before us were great to work with. The 
conference was very congenial, totally bipartisan and a real pleasure.
  And, most importantly, we have ended up with a good bill. It does a 
lot of things to improve Social Security.
  This bill fixes many parts of the existing law which are broke and 
needed fixing. It makes disability payments to substance abusers more 
accountable. It requires that substance abusers participate in 
treatment or lose their benefits. It insures that benefits will not be 
used to support an addiction.
  It allows police and firefighters in all the States the option of 
participating in Social Security. Only 24 States now have this option.
  It provides that any borrowing against the Social Security trust fund 
must be evidenced by physical documents--bonds, notes, or certificates. 
It's time we got the trust fund IOU's in writing and this bill does 
that.
  This bill increases the Social Security exclusion for election 
workers to a reasonable level that will not discourage people from 
working at the polls.
  It does a lot of things.
  But, of course, the most important point of this bill is to 
accomplish something that members of this body have been trying to do 
for years--to restore independence to the Social Security 
Administration.
  In 1935, when Social Security was established, it was freestanding 
and independent, run by a three member board. Over the years it was 
expanded to be the Federal Security Agency and then it was folded into 
the most legendary of all bureaucracies, the Department of Health, 
Education and Welfare.
  Later, Education was spun off and H.E.W. became the Department of 
Health and Human Services.
  Social Security got lost in the process.
  This bill takes the Social Security Administration out of the 
basement of the Department of Health and Human Services where it has 
been lost in the bureaucratic shuffle.
  It emancipates the Social Security Administration from the bonds of 
politics and insulates it against the gale winds of Presidential 
posturing, bureaucratic infighting, and budgetary games.
  This bill insures that Social Security will no longer be a political 
football.
  This bill provides much-needed stability at SSA by creating the 
positions of a Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner to be appointed 
by the President and confirmed by the Senate, for 6-year terms.

  In the past 17 years, 12 Commissioners or Acting Commissioners have 
come and gone. Social Security has suffered from revolving-door 
leadership. This bill changes that and provides the kind of stability 
and a clear-cut line of responsibility any organization the size of SSA 
needs to be efficiently managed.
  To further strengthen oversight and accountability, this bill creates 
a bipartisan seven-member advisory board to provide advice on Social 
Security policy. Three members would be appointed by the President; 
four by the Congress. and, again, to provide continuity and insulate 
the agency from politics, the members would serve staggered 6-year 
terms.
  I am particularly pleased that the conferees chose to go along with 
this form of leadership for Social Security that I specified in my bill 
on the subject--a single administrator backed by a seven-member board.
  By granting Social Security its independence and backing it up with 
this well-balanced management structure, we will provide the stability 
and the nonpartisan credibility we need to restore the confidence of 
the American people that Social Security will indeed be there when they 
need it.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure and give Social 
Security its independence.

                              {time}  1250

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Fourth of July has come and gone. It has been two 
long and eight regular-sized years now, since this effort was begun. 
Now on this 11th day of August, 1994, A.D., the Liberty Bill can ring 
for the Social Security System. The House of Representatives, by what 
it is about to do will take the final action in a 10-year effort. Our 
action realizes the perseverance and the effort of 10 years to make a 
declaration of independence for the Social Security System.
  Many Members have made special contributions. I begin by naming my 
friend and my colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Bunning]. Our 
relationship as chairman and cochairman of the Social Security 
Subcommittee reminds me fondly of those greats of the U.S. Congress, 
William McCulloch of Ohio and Emanuel Celler of New York, and the 
splendid fashion in which they worked and brought credit to this 
institution. So I pay special tribute to the gentleman from Kentucky 
[Mr. Bunning] for the cooperation we have been able to find between us.
  The gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle] has been through the years a 
strong advocate, as has the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer], as has 
been mentioned. The gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Rostenkowski] has been 
also, and the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Gibbons] has been. In fact 
there are very few people on the committee who have not been strong 
advocates for this legislation.
  But I think it is especially appropriate to mention that the 
legislation took 10 years because the White House was opposed and in 
essence the other body, the Senate, was opposed. So I take this 
occasion to commend our colleague, Mr. Moynihan of New York, for at 
long last reversing the refusal of the other body. Similarly, we have 
had three Presidents while this effort was under way, and President 
Clinton has endorsed the plan at long last, reversing White House 
opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, one hears it said that the funds of the Social Security 
system are being purloined and used for the general government. With 
the exception of two occasions in the 1980's, this absolutely is not 
true. The Social Security System since its inception has been required 
to invest its surpluses in the most conservative, the safest securities 
available, and any financial adviser worth his or her salt will tell us 
that is U.S. securities. My wife and I have our life savings 
essentially in U.S. bonds.

  If you put $1,000 in the bank and some fool comes along and borrows 
that $1,000 from the bank to squander on something, still as far as the 
bank and as far as you are concerned, the question is, Can and will 
that individual pay that money back and pay the interest on it? In the 
case of the Social Security trust fund, no doubt some of the funds 
borrowed, as is the case with funds borrowed from other sources by the 
U.S. Government, are wasted. Yet as far as the Social Security trust 
fund itself is concerned, it has just as legal a claim on the U.S. 
Treasury for the interest and repayment of the loans of the surplus as 
any individual who holds U.S. bonds in this country. Yet it continues 
to be thundered across areas of this country that the money is being 
taken from the Social Security System without the inconvenience of 
borrowing and paying interest.
  I keep thinking about the story FDR told once about Uncle Jed and 
Ezra.
  Ezra said, ``Uncle Jed, aren't you getting a little hard of 
hearing?''
  And Uncle Jed said, ``Yes, I'm afeared I'm getting a mite deef.'' 
Whereupon Jed went down to Boston to see an ear doctor, and he came 
back and said, ``That doctor asked me if I had been drinking any, and I 
said, `Yes, I drink a mite.' He said, `Jed, I might as well tell you 
now that either you cut out the drinking or you're going to lose your 
hearing altogether.'''
  ``Well,'' said Uncle Jed, ``I thought it over and I said, `Doc, I 
like what I've been drinking so much better than what I've been 
ahearin' that I reckon I'll just keep on getting deef.'''
  So the assertion that you hear time and time again--that this money 
is being taken from the trust fund and that the Government is not 
keeping faith with the investors and the taxpayers of this country--is 
something to which I would advise you to turn a deaf ear.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Houghton].
  (Mr. HOUGHTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report 
on H.R. 4277.
  I will not repeat some of the wonderful things that have been said on 
a bipartisan basis. I respect the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs] 
and the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Bunning]. I think that what my 
leader, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], has done has been 
absolutely extraordinary.
  I would like to focus on one particular feature that I think is 
important here, and that is a section called section 231. That does not 
mean much to a lot of people. However, it happens to involve fraud.
  One of the things which the Ways and Means Committee was able to 
detect over the years, after a year-long investigation, was that there 
had been tremendous fraud perpetrated upon immigrants coming into this 
country. People would take advantage of them, put them on the SSI 
rolls, steal money from the Government and the taxpayers, and do this 
thing illegally. That has been stopped, to the best of my knowledge. We 
now have better information. We have laws to protect against this 
thing.
  Mr. Speaker, I think this is very important. The reason I mention it 
is because it is one of the several features that are, I think, 
important in establishing Social Security as an independent agency. I 
thank the Members very much for accomplishing that.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum].
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  I rise in strong support of the conference report, and I also want to 
commend the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs], the gentleman from 
Kentucky [Mr. Bunning], and also the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], 
for the fine work they have done on this legislation.
  I think it is important that Social Security become an independent 
agency, and those arguments have been made. What I want to focus on 
today is a subject that I was involved with in the conference, and that 
is the SSI reforms that are in the bill. I believe now, having looked 
at the SSI Program for the 2 years I have been on the Human Resources 
Subcommittee, that there is no entitlement program that is more abused 
and more fraud-ridden than the SSI Program. What we have done today is 
take a first step toward entitlement reform.
  We have heard a lot of talk about this and people have asked, ``What 
are you going to do about entitlements?'' Well, today we have an 
opportunity to do something about entitlements. We have solid reforms 
in this proposal that are going to make, I believe, some important 
gains in controlling the cost of entitlements and reducing fraud and 
abuse in entitlements.
  But this is only a first step. There are many miles to travel before 
we can clean up the SSI Program from the state it is in right now or 
even the state it will be in after this legislation has been adopted.
  Let me take the time to talk about two things that are, I think, good 
steps that we have taken and then focus on the problems that I think 
still remain. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Houghton] just talked 
about the middleman provision about which the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Pickle] had hearings in his Committee on Oversight and that were, I 
think, addressed on target. It was a very good amendment. It addresses 
the issue of aliens in this country who come here to this country and 
get on SSI fraudulently. That is a good amendment, one that is going to 
cut down on fraud and abuse and save the taxpayers money.

                              {time}  1300

  Another step that was a good step that the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Pickle] and I worked on in the conference committee and were able to 
get installed in this legislation had to do with mandatory disability 
reviews. There were no mandatory disability reviews that were going to 
be provided for in the conference report. We were able to strike a 
compromise in the House position which was going to require all 
mandatory disability reviews for all supplemental security recipients, 
to 100,000 per year for disability cases and for over a 3-year period, 
and one-third of all children who qualify for SSI, who when they turn 
18 are reevaluated under different criteria, that is as adults, and 
whether they would qualify for disability as adults rather than 
disability as children.
  We think those are very important steps to determine the level of 
review that needs to be done. We are going to do a 3-year 
implementation of this, take a look at the results, and see if we save 
money, see if there is the need to continue these disability reviews 
and expand them.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], in 
particular, for the tremendous work he did in the conference committee 
to seek this provision and get it included in the conference report.
  Unfortunately, we have only taken those few first steps. There are 
other areas that I think we need some more work to be done in. One is 
on the SSI DA&A Program, a supplemental security income drug addicts 
and alcoholics program.
  These are people who qualify for SSI simply because they are so 
addicted to drugs and alcohol they cannot work. They have no other 
disability, other than the fact they are so drug addicted to illegal 
narcotics or addicted to alcohol that they can no longer perform work. 
So we give them money. We give them cash. We give them medical care. In 
many cases we give them food stamps.
  In 1985, there were 3,500 people on this program. Today there are 
almost 80,000 people on this program. In 1989, we spent $55 million on 
this program. Today we spend $350 million on this program.
  Only 8 percent of the people are in treatment. Yet every one is 
required to be in treatment. But only 8 percent are in treatment. The 
Social Security Administration testified before our subcommittee and 
said that we knew very little about treatment progress of SSI 
recipients, and could document few, if any, recoveries in the history 
of the program. So this is not a program that is working.
  So what we have been recommending strongly is to do something 
dramatic to change it. What we have done in this bill, in my opinion, 
is piecemeal. It is a positive step, but it does not go far enough. We 
have capped the amount of time you can be on SSI to 36 months, 3 years, 
that you can be on SSI if you are in the drug addicts and alcoholics 
program. That is a start. But we have to be much more dramatic in 
trying to get people off drug addiction and alcoholism and back into 
the mainstream society, and not paying people money to support their 
addiction and their habit.
  The second thing that I think we went only a very small step on has 
to do with SSI for children. Ever since the decision back in 1991 in 
the Zebley case we have seen an explosion of children going on SSI and 
their parents receiving large checks from the Government. In many areas 
of the country, they are called crazy checks. These are checks given 
because now under the Zebley decision, your child qualifies for SSI if 
your children are exhibiting age-inappropriate behavior.

  Now, for age-inappropriate behavior for your children, you get a $450 
check a month from the Federal Government. With the amendment of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Kleczka] in the committee, we will do a 
study as to whether we can turn these cash payments to these parents, 
who we have evidence in some cases of coaching their children to get 
these checks, we have a study to look to whether we can go to a voucher 
program for treatment of children who are having problems, as opposed 
to cash to parents of these children.
  Finally, we really do not address the issue of noncitizens receiving 
SSI. We have $7 billion a year being paid to noncitizens in this 
country for welfare payments, and a big chunk of that is SSI. Half a 
million people who are noncitizens of this country receive SSI benefits 
today, and it is a growing problem, growing faster every day. We must 
do something about that.
  This is a positive first step. I hope we can come back in future 
Congresses to take more steps.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I want the record to show that Valerie 
Nixon, Sandy Wise, Elaine Fultz, Cathy Noe, and Phil Mosely have all 
contributed mightily to putting this whole revolutionary program 
together. They are staffers on the committee. We could not have done it 
at all without the help of Janice Mays, the staff director at the 
Committee on Ways and Means, aka, Amazing Janice.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Fingerhut].
  (Mr. FINGERHUT asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FINGERHUT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for 
yielding. I want to compliment the gentleman and each and every member 
of the Committee on Ways and Means, both the majority and minority 
side, who have led the fight for this historic legislation for so many 
years. I also want to add my thanks to President Clinton and the 
administration for endorsing this bill, which gave it critical support 
when it needed it.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the conference report 
on H.R. 4277, legislation that would make the Social Security 
Administration an independent agency with an accountable administrator 
supported by a bipartisan independent advisory board.
  The Social Security Administration is one of the most important 
agencies of our Federal Government, with 64,000 employees. It is the 
largest division of the Department of Health and Human Services and one 
of the largest Federal agencies of any kind. Maintaining the integrity 
of the Social Security System is vital to the well-being of our 
seniors. The Government must keep its promises. It must not, and it 
does not, as the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs] said before, use 
the Social Security moneys for other programs. But an independent 
agency will maintain the integrity of these funds and will fight for 
the rights of seniors.
  Most importantly, an independent Social Security Agency will protect 
the agency from the political whims of the moment.
  I believe that the final passage of this legislation will greatly 
benefit my constituents. As an independent agency, the Social Security 
Administration will be able to focus on the goal of improving service 
and responding more efficiently and effectively to the people it 
serves. Most importantly, such a move will enhance the confidence of 
the American people in an agency which is a vital part of their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many other important provisions of this bill. 
The gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum] and others have referred 
to the provisions with respect to the Social Security disability 
program to tighten the requirements and make sure we are not needlessly 
paying out money to support drug and alcohol addiction programs. I 
support those reforms.
  There is also a small but very important reform in this bill that 
allows election day workers, those people who perform their civic duty, 
to not have to pay Social Security benefits on their poll payments, a 
small but very important and significant provision of this bill.
  Another important provision of the bill would increase penalties 
against deceptive mass mailings that cheat thousands of senior citizens 
by mimicking official Social Security correspondence.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this conference report and urge its 
passage.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Illinois [Mr. Crane].
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to congratulate the gentleman and the 
distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security on which 
I serve, too, for the outstanding bipartisan contribution that they 
have made. It is long overdue, and a lot of the things that are being 
addressed in this bill, while perhaps there are still further 
improvements down the road that can be achieved, I think make a major 
step forward in the right direction. The most important, of course, is 
depoliticizing any aspect of this important new independent entity, the 
Social Security Administration as an independent agency.
  I think in addition to that, the reforms on drug and alcohol abuse, 
those are critically important reforms, and the bill does indeed 
provide the incentives for people to get out of drug and alcohol 
addiction, and I think that they are two important ingredients of this 
that in and of themselves, aside from the other reforms that are 
contained therein, warrant the support on a bipartisan basis of all the 
Members of this Chamber. I urge every one to vote for the conference 
report on H.R. 4277.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social 
Security, I urge my colleagues to support the conference report on H.R. 
4277, the Social Security Administrative Reform Act. I believe this 
legislation is an important step toward the efficient operation and 
administration of the Social Security Program.
  In too many instances, political fluctuations have brought 
instabilities to the Social Security Administration. This legislation 
will remove those uncertainties and allow for continuity in the 
agency's operations. Starting in April of next year, Social Security 
will be run by a commissioner and a bipartisan board, appointed for 
specific terms of office and therefore somewhat more removed from the 
political process.
  Another important provision of this legislation is the reform of 
disability compensation for drug and alcohol addicts. Current law 
allows for far too much abuse of the system, intentional or otherwise, 
as addicts who are not cured of their disability remain on the welfare 
rolls. In contrast, this legislation forces addicts to assume some 
measure of responsibility for their condition, not only requiring them 
to seek treatment but also providing an incentive for them to actively 
seek self-sufficiency. Requiring treatment will force addicts into 
beneficial programs, and cutting off benefits after 3 years will 
undeniably provide motivation for addicts to put their addictions 
behind them and return as productive members of society.
  These changes are especially relevant in a year when Congress is 
attempting to tackle welfare reform. No longer can we afford to dole 
out Federal largess without any promise of improvement. Some have 
criticized the cutoff of benefits as arbitrary and counterproductive 
for those who have not yet completed treatment, but I believe that we 
must provide incentives for those who rely on Federal payments to find 
other means of support. It is a lesson that we should all bring to the 
debate over welfare as well.
  This legislation makes important changes to the Social Security 
Administration. And it marks an important change in how we approach our 
social spending. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
will join in support of this long overdue reform.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Barca].
  Mr. BARCA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, today is another banner day for Congress. Yesterday we 
passed the Congressional Accountability Act, and today we pass the bill 
to make Social Security an independent agency and make other important 
changes within that area.
  We want to protect Social Security from political pressures and, most 
important, guarantee the integrity of our Social Security funds. Since 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt first pushed Social Security, it has been one 
of the most important programs to provide for the security and dignity 
of Americans in retirement. It has always been a very important buffer 
for people in tough economic times.

                              {time}  1310

  Senior citizens throughout Wisconsin and America can rest a little 
easier with the passage of this bill. Also I had heard from many poll 
workers in my district, such as Norm Buckholtz and Eleanor Cavelli, and 
many others that believe that we need to exempt them from the taxes 
from Social Security, and I thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 
Jacobs], for his hard work in that effort.
  Finally, and equally importantly, a provision I now call on drug 
addicts. I had visited many treatment centers in my district and have 
been working on legislation in this respect. And I believe this is an 
important provision to limit payments to 36 months and ensure that the 
moneys are going to curb addiction rather than feed people's addiction. 
Hopefully this will be just one of a number of steps that we can take 
in this regard.
  So today is a great achievement for the Social Security Program. It 
is a great achievement for the 103d Congress. I thank the chairman and 
his committee for their outstanding work. I believe that FDR is smiling 
with great favor upon the 103d Congress today.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Camp].
  (Mr. CAMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Social Security 
Administrative Reform Act Conference Report.
  This bill, establishes the Social Security Administration as an 
independent agency. It will ensure the integrity accountability of 
Social Security by greatly diminishing the politics of the agency. It 
will remove the agency from the control of HHS and better enable the 
Government to keep its promise to older Americans.
  As a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, I have seen evidence 
of Social Security disability abuse. Under the current, SSI program 
some drug addicts and alcoholics defraud the system, rather than get 
treatment for their addiction. This legislation is a first step in 
addressing the abuse and fraud within the SSI Program. It is our 
intention to continue working to reform current law and bring a balance 
to the disability program.
  This bill will also provide Social Security tax relief to election 
workers which have been unfairly taxed causing added administrative 
burdens to local governments, charged with conducting our elections.
  I urge my colleagues to restore senior citizen's trust in the 
Government by voting for this conference report. It is a good idea for 
the Social Security Administration and best of all a good idea for the 
American people.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Kleczka], the author, I might add, of the reform on the 
drug addiction.
  (Mr. KLECZKA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report and ask 
unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the focuses of the 103d Congress has been to make 
the Federal Government run more efficiently and to increase the general 
public's confidence in its Government.
  We are committed to this objective and have made strides toward 
achieving it.
  H.R. 4277 takes a step in this direction. By making SSA an 
independent agency, we hope to increase the quality of service it 
provides.
  Currently, SSA is overwhelmed: there is a tremendous backlog in 
disability cases waiting to be processed, agency employees are 
sometimes difficult to reach, and responses are often slow in coming 
and errorprone upon arrival.
  This is due to: an overburdened system plagued by shortages of staff 
and rising numbers of cases, as well as a high-rate of turnover among 
top agency officials.
  By creating an independent, more stable, structure for the agency, we 
will hopefully correct some of the problems with the current system.
  We will thereby increase confidence that the Social Security System 
will be able to provide the quality of service and benefits that is 
expected.
  The bill also makes headway in reforming the current system by 
demanding accountability for disability payments to substance abusers.
  My office has received numerous calls from constituents who are 
adamant that their hard-earned tax dollars not be used to finance the 
habits of drug addicts and alcoholics.
  The issue is not that we should withhold assistance from substance 
abusers who are seeking rehabilitation. We should help them if they are 
committed to rehabilitating themselves and improving their lives.
  The Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General 
recently tracked 196 sustance abusers on SSI for 3 years:
  Only 1 of these 196 recipients left the SSI rolls due to self-
sufficiency.
  This led the IG to determine that current treatment efforts appear to 
result in few complete rehabilitations that eliminate a recipient's 
need for SSI.
  Clearly, this is a program that's not working.
  If we're not helping substance abusers successfully rehabilitate and 
become capable of earning income, then the program is failing both the 
recipient and the taxpayer.
  We cannot allow this to continue.
  H.R. 4277 includes a time limitation provision I offered, along with 
my colleague from Oklahoma, [Mr. Brewster].
  Under this provision, substance abusers who qualify for benefits 
because of their addictions will only receive cash assistance for 36 
months.
  Mr. Speaker, at some point, we must say enough is enough. At some 
point, the recipient must be asked to take ultimate responsibility for 
his or her life.
  By enacting this bill, Congress is saying 3 years is the appropriate 
point.
  While this bill does a good job of addressing some of the problems 
with the SSI and SSDI Programs, this is just a first step.
  Some of the changes in H.R. 4277 are modest ones, and we must ensure 
that payments are used for their intended purpose.
  In general, the Social Security Administrative Reform Act proposes 
innovative solutions to problems faced in various programs under the 
jurisdiction of SSA.
  However, more must be done.
  We must continue to scrutinize this system in search of ways to 
improve failing programs and recoup wasted resources.
  The American people expect and deserve quality service from their 
government, and they want to know that their tax dollars are being used 
wisely.
  Mr. Speaker, we have the responsibility to live up to these 
expectations.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Herger]
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, which includes a provision I offered which will begin 
conducting continuing disability reviews in the SSI Disability 
Program--a reform which will make a significant contribution to ending 
fraud in this program, saving up to $300 million in future years.
  I would like to thank my colleagues, chairman Gibbons and ranking 
member Bill Archer for their support. I also want to thank subcommittee 
chairman Andy Jacobs and ranking member Jim Bunning, and particularly 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], who has been a strong advocate 
of this reform, and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum].
  Mr. Speaker, compiling a profile of those collecting SSI disability 
benefits who are most likely to recover is crucial to getting a handle 
on spending in the SSI Disability Program, which is the fastest growing 
entitlement in the Federal budget. It is amazing that, until now, the 
Social Security Administration was not required to verify that persons 
receiving SSI disability benefits were still eligible for benefits, 
even after the passage of many years. While many people may well 
recover from their disability and be able to go back to work, until now 
we have not required any effort to find this out.
  This has only fed the explosion of our disability rolls, thus 
jeopardizing benefits for those who remain truly disabled and have no 
other source of income.
  Eliminating this oversight is an important feature of H.R. 4277. I 
urge my colleagues to support responsible reform of our disability 
programs.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Kentucky [Mr. Lewis].
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Kentucky for yielding time to me.
  I also want to thank him for his dedicated work toward bringing this 
bill to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this landmark 
legislation, H.R. 4277, that finally gives the Social Security 
Administration its freedom.
  By making the Social Security Administration an independent agency, 
H.R. 4277 gives SSA a chance to operate the way it was originally 
intended when this program was first created. SSA will no longer be 
subject to the restraints and red tape that come from being part of the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
  SSA will be able to concentrate on administering its programs, and 
provide better, cost effective, and more efficient service to the 
American people.
  Social Security is one of the most important programs that our 
Government offers. Since just about every American pays into it during 
their lives, it is our responsibility to make sure that the Social 
Security system is strong and solvent for generations to come.
  By passing this conference report and making SSA an independent 
agency, we can do just that.
  This bill also makes many other improvements to the Social Security 
system that are badly needed. Specifically, H.R. 4277 cleans up the 
regulations on Social Security benefits for drug addicts and 
alcoholics. As it works now, these people can receive Federal benefits 
with virtually no supervision on how the money is used, or 
encouragement to get treatment.
  But H.R. 4277 changes that. Under this bill we can be sure that 
American tax dollars are not being used to feed alcohol and drug 
habits. Instead, H.R. 4277 encourages these folks to get help, to be in 
therapy and to start getting their lives back on track.
  These are needed changes for SSA. They have been a long time in the 
making and thanks to the hard work of the members on the Social 
Security Subcommittee and the Ways and Means Committee, we have the 
chance today to make them.
  I urge my colleagues to support these improvements for Social 
Security and vote yes on this conference report.

                              {time}  1320

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Hughes].
  (Mr. HUGHES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HUGHES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4277, legislation to 
establish the Social Security Administration as an independent agency. 
I firmly believe that we must act now to ensure strong, stable, and 
independent leadership for this large Federal agency which is of 
crucial importance to virtually every American.
  As the former chairman of the Select Committee on Aging and the 
current Chairman of the Older Americans Caucus, I have held a number of 
hearings that have detailed serious and costly problems with SSA's 
ability to provide appropriate assistance to older and disabled 
Americans. It is very clear from this testimony that we are 
experiencing a real crisis in service delivery in a number of different 
areas.
  With administrative costs running around 1 percent, Social Security's 
staffing was put through a rapid downsizing process in the late 1980's, 
eliminating nearly one-fourth of its personnel. While steps were needed 
to streamline the agency, the evidence is overwhelmingly clear that we 
have gone too far. Many of these reductions were made strictly for 
political reasons, and they are costing the taxpayers millions of 
dollars in incorrect benefit payments and forcing many elderly and 
disabled beneficiaries to face undue hardships.
  One of the most serious effects of this political jockeying can be 
seen in the unacceptable backlog in the Nation's disability program, 
which is barely treading water under a sea of unprocessed claims and 
paperwork. Despite completing more casework with fewer staff, the 
nationwide backlog of unprocessed disability cases is well over 800,000 
cases, a level which is some 2\1/2\ times larger than it was just 3 
years ago, and we can expect the disability caseload to be over 1 
million cases by the end of the year. On the front end, the average 
disabled applicant must wait 5 to 6 months in many areas of the country 
in order to have his or her initial disability application reviewed. In 
many instances, people are dying before their casework is processed.
  And on the back end, we are costing the taxpayers tens of millions of 
dollars because we do not have sufficient personnel to review the 
disability rolls to determine those who have improved enough medically 
that they should no longer be receiving disability benefits. 
Consequently, the taxpayers are spending tens of millions of dollars on 
persons who should no longer be receiving benefits.
  In short, we have hundreds of thousands of people waiting inordinate 
amounts of time to receive the disability insurance they have paid for 
at the same time that taxpayers are spending estimates of up to $100 
million per year on persons who should not be on disability. Is there 
any wonder why many of our constituents have the perception that their 
Government is not working?
  In addition, a growing number of Social Security recipients in New 
Jersey and throughout the country are finding it increasingly difficult 
to get timely assistance. Busy signals at SSA's national 1-800 
telephone service are running over 50 percent on some days, with many 
older persons telling me that they often just give up because of the 
busy signals.
  Social Security recipients have a right to expect that when they call 
for questions or assistance, they will not be faced with inordinate 
delays, busy signals, or staff who are too busy to provide complete and 
accurate answers to their questions.
  Many of these problems can be traced to the fact that Social 
Security's administrative operations are being driven by short-term 
political decisions.
  There is also a real crisis in accountability and continuity within 
the agency. In a little over 15 years, there have been 10 Commissioners 
or Acting Commissioners of Social Security. We simply must have more 
long-term planning and accountability for this vital agency. I believe 
that establishing Social Security as an independent agency is the only 
way we can ensure some continuity within the agency and isolate it from 
short-term budgetary and partisan considerations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I 
commend the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs] and the gentleman from 
Kentucky [Mr. Bunning] for their leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor, as well as the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], who I saw 
earlier and is in the back of the Chamber, and so many others for 
making this day possible. It is the right decision, an important 
decision, I think, in the history of Social Security, and Mr. Speaker, 
ask my colleagues to support this particular initiative.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Washington [Mr. Swift].
  (Mr. SWIFT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SWIFT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the 
subcommittee, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs], and I want to 
thank the Committee on Ways and Means for their perseverance.
  There is a provision in this bill that is kind of a reverse unfunded 
mandate. We actually help local government with one of its important 
tasks.
  Mr. Speaker, a few years ago Congress inadvertently caused local 
election officials some serious problems in recruiting and hiring 
election poll workers. Often these people are already retired, and some 
Social Security requirements dissuaded many from volunteering for that 
work on election day. This bill fixes that in a way that has bipartisan 
support, and will significantly help local election officials get their 
job done on election day.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs], I want to thank the gentleman from 
Kentucky [Mr. Bunning], and I want to thank all the Members of the 
Committee on Ways and Means for taking care of this problem for the 
poll workers of America.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Elections of the 
House Administration Committee, I have a special reason for being 
pleased with this legislation. In July 1991, three years ago--State and 
local election officials noted that because of an oversight in the 1990 
OBRA, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, they faced an enormous 
administrative and financial burden. In the OBRA, Congress extended 
social security coverage to State and local government officials 
without noticing that the $100 exemption for election workers already 
in place would not be adequate to continue exempting those election 
workers that no one intended to cover. They did not need the coverage--
most are already on retirement, and they did not work at the polls 
because they needed the money--they have been leaving in droves because 
of the administrative hassles they now face. And running elections has 
been more and more difficult to do for the state and local 
jurisdictions.
  The solution was easy, but putting it into effect has not been. The 
House twice placed a provision to raise the exemption to a realistic 
figure--$1,000--in the budget reconciliation bills only to have the 
Senate object in conference.
  But now, in H.R. 4277, this conference bill to make the Social 
Security Administration an independent agency, we find there is a small 
provision to raise the exemption for poll workers from $100 to $1,000. 
The provision did not appear by accident. Chairman Jacobs and the 
committee have worked hard to get this in and to keep it in, and I 
thank them for it.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Young].
  (Mr. YOUNG of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks, and to include extraneous material.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this all-
important, long overdue legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, as the representative of one of our Nation's largest 
populations of Social Security recipients and the chairman of the 
Congressional Social Security Caucus, I rise in strong support of this 
conference report on H.R. 4277, the Social Security Administrative 
Reform Act.
  This legislation gives the Social Security Administration long 
overdue independence from the Department of Health and Human Services 
and, more importantly, from political pressures that can be exerted on 
its Commissioner. Under H.R. 4277, the agency would be headed by a 
single administrator, appointed by the President, but who would serve 
under the oversight of a seven-member bipartisan board. This board, as 
the voice for the almost 40 million Americans who receive Social 
Security benefits, would ensure that the trust funds remain sound and 
untouched, that payments and cost-of-living adjustment continue to be 
paid in full and on time, and that the agency continues to provide 
timely and efficient service for retirees, workers, and employers.
  As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and 
Human Services, which oversees the operations of and funding for the 
Social Security Administration, I am well aware of the chain of command 
which currently requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report 
to the Department of Health and Human Services. Likewise, the agency's 
budget requests must also be reviewed and approved by the Secretary.
  The legislation before us today will enable the Social Security 
Administration to present directly to Congress and our committee its 
annual budget request. This is important in that it enables us to know 
what the new Administrator and Social Security Board believe are the 
agency's true funding requirements, not those imposed upon them by the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
  This legislation also takes a number of important steps to further 
enhance public confidence in the Social Security Program. It cracks 
down on the payment of supplemental security income [SSI] and 
disability insurance [DI] benefits for alcoholics and drug abusers. It 
also requires the Social Security Administration to direct greater 
resources into preventing, detecting, and terminating fraudulent claims 
for SSI benefits.
  Finally, the conference report retains an important House provision 
to give the Administrator greater powers to police the mailings and 
fundraising appeals of various organizations who attempt to mislead and 
frighten older Americans, many of whom live on small fixed incomes and 
depend almost solely on their monthly Social Security benefits for 
their financial well being.
  We have become all too familiar with calls, letters, and post cards 
from our constituents asking if they have to contribute $5 or $10 to 
the variety of organizations that have sprung up to purportedly protect 
their Social Security benefits. As I tell each of these people who 
contact me, they do not have to contribute a single penny to any of 
these organizations to protect their benefits. It is the responsibility 
of Congress, and my job as their Representative, to ensure that the 
U.S. Government continues to live up to its commitment to ensure that 
the Social Security trust funds remain sound and that their benefits 
and cost of living adjustments are protected.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth time the House will consider this 
legislation and I am pleased to know that after allowing it to die 
three previous times, our colleagues in the other body have finally 
joined us in enacting this legislation. It is a reaffirmation that the 
Social Security trust funds are an independent and self-supporting 
sector of our Federal Government and that oversight for these funds 
should be provided for by an independent agency and board.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Roth].
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to join with so many of the other speakers who 
have had such complimentary remarks about the gentleman from Kentucky 
[Mr. Bunning], the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Pickle], and the gentleman 
from Indiana [Mr. Jacobs] for the fine work they have done on this 
legislation. I want to join in congratulating them.
  Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the House Republican Social Security 
Task Force, I rise in support of this conference report to reform our 
Social Security System.
  Social Security is a trust between the American people and their 
Government. But as the members of the Social Security Task Force heard 
in a recent hearing, this trust has been eroded. Instead of being 
invested for the future, billions of Social Security dollars are being 
spent on programs other than Social Security.
  Senior citizens are justifiably upset that political and budget 
battles have put their hard earned Social Security benefits in 
jeopardy. The Social Security System is also being abused. Drug addicts 
and alcoholics are spending their Supplemental Security Income and 
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits on more drugs and 
alcohol.
  By passing this conference report today, the House will take a 
significant step to correct these problems. This action is long 
overdue. Today's bill will make Social Security an independent agency 
to protect Americans' retirement funds from political and budget 
battles. Every Social Security beneficiary, both current and future, 
must be assured that their benefits will be secure, and that the 
program will be administered fairly and soundly. By walling off Social 
Security as an independent agency, Congress will help to assure the 
American people that Social Security funds will be used for Social 
Security purposes only.
  Today's bill also will tighten the rules for drug addicts and 
alcoholics who receive benefits. As I testified last February to Mr. 
Jacobs' subcommittee, the American people are outraged that our Social 
Security system has degenerated into a cash cow for addicts. Nearly 
250,000 drug addicts and alcoholics received $1.4 billion in Social 
Security Disability Insurance payments last year, with no strings 
attached. Addicts are cashing their checks and buying drugs the same 
day. And while I would prefer to see even tougher restrictions, today's 
bill will impose some tighter rules on SSI and SSDI recipients who are 
addicts. Benefits to addicts will be cut off after 3 years. Second, 
benefits must be paid to a responsible party who will ensure that the 
recipient is participating in a treatment program.
  Mr. Speaker, senior citizens deserve to have an independent and 
depoliticized Social Security Administration to responsibly oversee 
their retirement benefits. And the American people are looking to 
Congress to stop the scandalous waste of Social Security funds by 
addicts. To combat both these problems, I urge my colleagues to support 
this conference report and help strengthen the Social Security system 
on behalf of all Americans.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. Regula].
  (Mr. REGULA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the sponsor and authors of 
this legislation. As vice chairman of the Older Americans Caucus, I 
know how very important it is to senior citizens to have a sense of 
confidence in their systems, particularly Social Security.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all know, there are many groups that communicate 
to seniors, causing them to worry about the integrity of the Social 
Security System. We get letters reaffirming such worries. By making SSA 
an independent agency, this bill means that the integrity of the Social 
Security System can be maintained. Moreover, such action will prevent 
Social Security benefits from being further used as both political and 
budgeting pawns. Enactment ensures that those who pay into the system 
will receive their benefits.
  I also commend provisions which strengthen safeguards against the use 
of disability and supplement income payments to support a drug or 
alcohol habit.
  Truly, this bill restores not only the confidence of our present 
retirees, but the confidence of our future retirees--guaranteeing that 
our Social Security System can and will be preserved.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time we have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). The gentleman from Kentucky 
[Mr. Bunning] has 3 minutes remaining.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to close debate for our side.
  Mr. Speaker, there is one more important point I would like to make 
in closing. Ever since I have come to Congress I have received 
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of letters from older citizens who are 
frightened. They are frightened because unscrupulous lobbying 
organizations have been scaring them to death with unsolicited mailings 
saying Congress is about to cut Social Security.
  These letters usually read something like this: ``Congress is about 
to act on Social Security cuts. We need your money to stop Congress 
now.'' That is just plain cruel, and it is inexcusable.

                              {time}  1330

  Older Americans are usually on fixed incomes and even $5 or $10 a 
month means the difference in food and medication each month. But these 
groups do not care. They will seize any opportunity to solicit 
contributions from senior citizens under the guise of lobbying Congress 
to stop any Social Security cuts. One of the jobs of the new bipartisan 
board will be to inform the public about Social Security. I am hoping 
the board will do such a good job of informing the public about Social 
Security that these unscrupulous organizations and their mailings will 
be put out of business.
  Again, let me reiterate my strong support for this bill. It is time 
Social Security took its place as a nonpartisan and independent agency.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first I would be pleased to incorporate by reference 
every word my colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky, has just said. It 
is pretty reprehensible to rip anybody off, but it is particularly 
reprehensible to rip off people who may not be adequately informed. 
There is a work for it, and that is conning. That is wrong.
  A moment ago, I omitted mentioning Phil Moseley, a staffer at the 
Committee on Ways and Means who has contributed greatly to this effort 
as well. While I am commending, I also commend our President who within 
a few days, I understand, will take the final step and sign this 
legislation into law. So break out the firecrackers. Let freedom reign. 
Independence is at hand for the Social Security System. It is a fine 
day for the United States.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Shaw].
  (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise 
in strong support of this most important legislation. I compliment both 
sides in working together.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the 
conference report on H.R. 4277, the Social Security Administrative 
Reform Act of 1994. This important bill makes a number of changes that 
will help protect the Social Security system on which millions of 
Americans rely.
  First, it makes Social Security an independent agency, which is a 
position I have long supported by cosponsoring and voting for bills to 
this effect. Passage of H.R. 4277 this year means that Social Security 
will become an independent agency no later than March 31, 1995. The new 
agency will have independent, bipartisan leadership. This will help it 
function more efficiently for the seniors who depend on Social Security 
benefits to make ends meet. And the Social Security trust fund will 
remain protected from political or general budgetary pressures.
  Second, the bill attempts to restrict disability insurance and SSI 
disability payments to substance abusers. Many hardworking Americans 
were outraged to learn that such a program even existed, spending 
Social Security funds on drug addicts and alcoholics disabled by their 
addictions. In my view, the restrictions in H.R. 4277 do not go far 
enough to get addicts into treatment and back to work. But they are an 
admission that a problem exists in this area, which the next Congress 
must continue to address.
  H.R. 4277 makes positive changes in 30 other areas, including raising 
the Social Security exclusion for election workers from $100 to $1,000 
annually starting on January 1, 1995. Prohibitions on the misuse of 
Social Security and other Government symbols are strengthened. That 
responds to mass mailings and solicitations meant to deceive those 
receiving them into thinking they were sent by the Federal Government. 
This is a problem many seniors especially have alerted me to, and I am 
pleased that we are continuing to strengthen penalties against this 
shameless practice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this important legislation, 
which will help protect the Social Security system in the years to 
come.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am happy that this conference report 
contains three provisions that will benefit a small number of 
motivated, hard-working people with disabilities. I would like to 
describe these provisions which I offered and which were accepted by 
the Ways and Means Committee.
  An SSI recipient who has a disability has the opportunity to have 
extra resources or income in order to achieve a work goal under a plan 
for achieving self-support [PASS]. Currently, an individual with an 
approved PASS may be eligible for income and resource exclusions for 18 
months, followed by two possible extensions of 18 and 12 months, 
respectively. The maximum of 4 years to achieve a PASS is given to 
persons pursuing a lengthy educational program. Often it is difficult 
for a person with a disability to achieve their goal within the given 
time period and the inflexibility with regard to the length of time 
allowed can produce anxiety and--in cases when the goal is not achieved 
in the given time--produces frustration and discouragement.
  H.R. 4277 requires the Social Security Administration [SSA] to take 
into account the needs of the individual and the difficulty of 
achieving the goal in determining the time necessary for the completion 
of a PASS.
  Presently, an SSI recipient other than a child living with a parent 
in military service cannot remain outside the United States for more 
than 30 consecutive days and retain eligibility for SSI. Also, the 
person must be back in the United States for 30 consecutive days before 
being considered to be eligible for SSI and only if the individual 
continues to meet all other eligibility criteria.
  A provision in H.R. 4277 allows the SSA to exempt SSI recipients from 
the 30-day time limit for a period not to exceed 1 year if the 
individual is fulfilling an educational requirement through a program 
which is not available in the United States and which will result in 
improved employment potential. Though this provision will help a very 
small number of people, it will allow these individuals to compete on a 
par with other students, disabled or nondisabled, if their educational 
requirements can only be fulfilled by study in a foreign country. The 
only way for many people with disabilities to become competitive in the 
labor force is to become highly educated. Young people, who have the 
intelligence and stamina to overcome the obstacles that disabilities 
present and acquire an advanced degree, can look forward to many years 
as productive members of our society.
  Mr. Speaker, the third provision I would like to highlight extends 
the provisions in current SSI law for protection against loss of 
Medicaid eligibility because of subsequent cost-of-living increases in 
Social Security benefits, to those persons who are working and 
utilizing the section 1619(b) work incentives provisions.
  There were a number of other provisions that I proposed and that the 
Ways and Means Committee accepted but were not accepted by the 
conferees. One of them would have deemed approved a PASS after 60 days 
if the SSA had not acted in that time. The Secretary could have 
subsequently disapproved the PASS prospectively and the individual 
would have had 6 months to spend down any money that had been saved to 
accomplish the work goal.
  I am happy that in the conference report the conferees requested the 
General Accounting Office [GAO] to conduct a study of the PASS program 
and its procedures since they felt not enough information on the PASS 
program is available at this time. I look forward to the findings and 
recommendations that this study will give us.
  I am pleased to support the conference report on H.R. 4277.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the 
conference report on H.R. 4277.
  I have been a cosponsor of legislation since the 99th Congress to 
make the Social Security Administration a separate, independent agency, 
and I am pleased to be able to cast my vote in favor of this 
legislation to make it happen. I support this effort because I believe 
that establishing the Social Security Administration, the ninth largest 
agency in the Federal Government, as a separate agency would further 
strengthen the program and ensure that it remains responsive to the 
millions of elderly and disabled Americans to whom it provides benefits 
and services.
  The Social Security program represents a promise the Federal 
Government made to Americans. It is vitally important that this promise 
never be broken and that everyone knows that by paying into the system 
during their working years they will be assured of getting benefits for 
themselves and their family in their later years. Making the Social 
Security Administration an independent agency will help ensure that 
this promise remains unbroken.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this conference report.
  Mr. Mfume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on 
An Independent Social Security Administration (H.R. 4277), which makes 
the Social Security Administration an independent agency.
  The Social Security Administration is responsible for administering 
the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Program, Disability Insurance [DI] 
Program and the Supplemental Security Income [SSI] Program. The Social 
Security Administration is the ninth largest agency in the Government. 
The conference agreement establishes the Social Security Administration 
[SSA] as an independent agency, effective March 31, 1995.
  Like the House bill the conference agreement includes several 
provisions which aim to improve the administration of Social Security 
DI and SSI programs. For example, the measure requires SSA to conduct 
continuing disability reviews for all SSI recipients in the same manner 
as they are now conducted for DI recipients. Further provisions in the 
agreement will give SSA additional authority to prevent benefit fraud 
and increases the penalties against deceptive mass mailings that mimic 
official Social Security correspondence.
  In my district of Baltimore, the employees of SSA have asked that I 
support this measure.
  However, Mr. Speaker, my support comes with some reservations. 
Specifically, I am concerned that Congress' desire to improve and 
advance the productivity and services of the Social Security 
Administration, while well-intentioned, may not be enough. In addition 
to passing this legislation, Congress must give the Social Security 
Administration the necessary resources to successfully make the smooth 
transition to independent status.
  An example of the transition SSA finds itself going through was 
recently seen when the Social Security Administration announced that it 
would cut 1,000 management jobs through attrition. Shortly thereafter, 
SSA announced that it will need an additional 11,000 employees to 
handle its increased responsibility.
  Another concern I have stems from the fact that the conference report 
brings SSA into a new realm of responsibility without giving it 
additional resources. An example of the new responsibilities is a 
provision in the agreement which restricts payment of disability 
insurance [DI] and supplemental security income [SSI] for persons with 
drug and alcohol addictions. Under current law, SSI recipients who have 
substance abuse problems are required to be paid through a designated 
second party. Unfortunately, there have been cases in which the alleged 
supplier of the drug to the abuser was the representative payee.
  In a provision I support, this bill requires that where possible, 
organizations, rather than family or friends, be named as 
representative payees for Disability Insurance and Supplemental 
Security Income recipients, unless SSA determines that a family member 
is appropriate.
  However, the agreement requires that the Social Security establish 
agencies in all 50 states that would find treatment programs for DI and 
SSI beneficiaries who are substance abusers, monitor their 
participation in the treatment program, and periodically conduct drug 
tests to determine if substance abuse problems are continuing. Under 
this provision, people with substance abuse problems who are receiving 
disability insurance would be required to participate in treatment, if 
available, in order to receive benefits. Regardless of participation in 
the treatment program, DI and SSI benefits to substance abusers would 
be cut off after 3 years unless the individual qualifies for benefits 
for reason other than the substance abuse problem.

  This will require the Social Security Agency to become involved in a 
whole new activity; drug testing for DI recipients. I have a number of 
problems with this, but that discussion is better left for another 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this conference report will pass to 
allow the Social Security Administration to become an independent 
agency. It is my further hope that we recognize the need to give this 
new agency adequate resources to improve and provide better service.
  Mr. MACHTLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference 
report on H.R. 4277, legislation which I believe will take important 
steps to restore public confidence in the Social Security system.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress, many seniors have contacted me to 
express their fear that the Social Security Trust Fund is being 
mishandled.
  And a recent GAO report, which reported that an estimated 250,000 
drug addicts and alcoholics collected approximately $1.4 billion in 
Social Security disability insurance and supplemental security income 
funds last year, proves them right.
  While the recipients of these payments are eligible for this Federal 
assistance, there is little or no evidence that these funds are being 
used for treatment. Instead, in many cases, these payments are being 
used to fuel the addictions.
  Now my heart goes out to those families that have had to deal with a 
loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, and I feel we should 
continue to offer our help in getting these people treatment.
  But the purpose of the Social Security Act is straightforward--to 
provide for the economic security of our population as it grows older 
or becomes disabled. It is certainly not intended to provide drug 
addicts and alcoholics with the financial means to perpetuate their 
substance abuses.
  Making the Social Security Administration an independent agency would 
greatly enhance public confidence in the management of these funds.
  The integrity of the Social Security system is important to me and to 
many of my constituents, and I firmly believe that this legislation 
will help to protect the system now and in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to support this conference report.
  Mr. RIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4277, 
the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994.
  This legislation makes the Social Security Administration an 
independent agency within the Federal Government, removing it from its 
current home within the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]. 
H.R. 4277 also contains provisions which place limits and restrictions 
on Social Security benefits paid to individuals with substance abuse 
problems.
  Mr. Speaker, a priority of mine in Congress has always been, and 
continues to be, to make sure that the Social Security Administration 
is able to function as efficiently and timely as possible. Many older 
citizens in my district and across Pennsylvania live on a fixed income 
and rely heavily on Social Security benefits.
  Giving the agency its independence will free it from the political 
and bureaucratic problems with which it has been forced to operate for 
so many years. Such political and bureaucratic problems have 
jeopardized its ability to perform properly. Making it an independent 
agency will go a long way in rectifying that problem, and, for this 
reason, I am pleased to support this legislation.
  Also, placing some restrictions and limits on Social Security 
benefits paid to substance abusers is a step in the right direction. 
While substance abuse is no longer viewed as merely a behavioral 
problem and is widely regarded as a medical condition, I believe this 
legislation accomplishes two very worthy objectives.
  First, treatment exists for substance abuse. It is compassionate 
therefore to encourage those suffering from substance abuse to seek 
help. Second, it is appropriate, and fair to other Social Security 
beneficiaries, to make sure that benefits being paid to substance 
abusers are not being used to sustain their addiction. For these two 
reasons, I am pleased that an effort was taken to ensure that the 
provisions contained in H.R. 4277 were done in both a fair and 
compassionate manner.
  Mr. Speaker, making the Social Security program a well-working, long-
lasting entity has been one of my highest priorities as a public 
servant. Keeping Social Security taxes down, and Social Security 
benefits up is paramount to that effort. H.R. 4277 goes a long way 
toward that end and I am pleased to rise in support of it. Passage of 
this legislation is long overdue.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             general leave

  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the conference report on H.R. 4277.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. JACOBS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quroum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quroum is not present.
  The sergeant at arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 431, 
nays 0, not voting 3, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 392]

                               YEAS--431

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allard
     Andrews (ME)
     Andrews (NJ)
     Andrews (TX)
     Applegate
     Archer
     Armey
     Bacchus (FL)
     Bachus (AL)
     Baesler
     Baker (CA)
     Baker (LA)
     Ballenger
     Barca
     Barcia
     Barlow
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Beilenson
     Bentley
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Bevill
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blackwell
     Bliley
     Blute
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Borski
     Boucher
     Brewster
     Brooks
     Browder
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burton
     Buyer
     Byrne
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Canady
     Cantwell
     Cardin
     Carr
     Castle
     Chapman
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clinger
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coleman
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (IL)
     Collins (MI)
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Coppersmith
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Darden
     de la Garza
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Dellums
     Derrick
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Dornan
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Durbin
     Edwards (CA)
     Edwards (TX)
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Fields (LA)
     Fields (TX)
     Filner
     Fingerhut
     Fish
     Flake
     Foglietta
     Ford (MI)
     Fowler
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (CT)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Gallo
     Gejdenson
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Geren
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gingrich
     Glickman
     Gonzalez
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Grams
     Grandy
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gunderson
     Gutierrez
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamburg
     Hamilton
     Hancock
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings
     Hayes
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Herger
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hoagland
     Hobson
     Hochbrueckner
     Hoekstra
     Hoke
     Holden
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Huffington
     Hughes
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hutto
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Inhofe
     Inslee
     Istook
     Jacobs
     Jefferson
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (SD)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Johnston
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kennedy
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kim
     King
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klein
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kopetski
     Kreidler
     Kyl
     LaFalce
     Lambert
     Lancaster
     Lantos
     LaRocco
     Laughlin
     Lazio
     Leach
     Lehman
     Levin
     Levy
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (FL)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lightfoot
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     Lloyd
     Long
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Machtley
     Maloney
     Mann
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Margolies-Mezvinsky
     Markey
     Martinez
     Matsui
     Mazzoli
     McCandless
     McCloskey
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McCurdy
     McDade
     McDermott
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McMillan
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek
     Menendez
     Meyers
     Mfume
     Mica
     Michel
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Mineta
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Molinari
     Mollohan
     Montgomery
     Moorhead
     Moran
     Morella
     Murphy
     Murtha
     Myers
     Nadler
     Neal (MA)
     Neal (NC)
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Orton
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Parker
     Pastor
     Paxon
     Payne (NJ)
     Payne (VA)
     Pelosi
     Penny
     Peterson (FL)
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pickett
     Pickle
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Poshard
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quillen
     Quinn
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Ravenel
     Reed
     Regula
     Reynolds
     Richardson
     Ridge
     Roberts
     Roemer
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rose
     Rostenkowski
     Roth
     Roukema
     Rowland
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Sabo
     Sanders
     Sangmeister
     Santorum
     Sarpalius
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Schaefer
     Schenk
     Schiff
     Schroeder
     Schumer
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sharp
     Shaw
     Shays
     Shepherd
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slattery
     Slaughter
     Smith (IA)
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Smith (TX)
     Snowe
     Solomon
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Studds
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sundquist
     Swett
     Swift
     Synar
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Tejeda
     Thomas (CA)
     Thomas (WY)
     Thompson
     Thornton
     Thurman
     Torkildsen
     Torres
     Torricelli
     Towns
     Traficant
     Tucker
     Unsoeld
     Upton
     Valentine
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Volkmer
     Vucanovich
     Walker
     Walsh
     Waters
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weldon
     Wheat
     Whitten
     Williams
     Wilson
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wyden
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)
     Zeliff
     Zimmer

                             NOT VOTING--3

     Brown (FL)
     Ford (TN)
     Washington

                              {time}  1352

  So the conference report was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________