[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BUDGET IMPASSE DERAILS BENEFITS FOR RAILROAD RETIREES

                                 ______


                             HON. RON KLINK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 1996

  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, Emperor Nero fiddled while his capital, Rome, 
burned to the ground.
  Now the Imperial Republican-controlled Congress here in Washington 
would rather keep the Federal Government shut down than do the people's 
business. Their actions are driving Federal workers and Federal 
contractors to the brink of financial disaster.
  Besides the Federal workers and Federal suppliers, there are other 
victims of the Federal shutdown: the retired railroad workers and their 
families.
  While Speaker Gingrich and other House Republicans rang in the New 
Year by celebrating with friends and family more than 170,000 railroad 
retirees had their monthly pension checks severely cut.
  Had the Republican leadership done its job on time, these railroad 
retirees would be receiving their vested dual benefits checks that 
average $130 per month. That means that more than 13,000 beneficiaries 
in Pennsylvania and others across the Nation will receive only partial 
annuity checks.
  For some railroad retirees their Medicare part B premiums will 
consume their entire benefit checks. The bill that contains the funding 
for these railroad retirees has not even been brought to the Senate 
floor.
  To add insult to injury, Speaker Gingrich has announced his 
intentions to recess the House until January 23. This makes no sense.
  Railroad retirees spent their entire careers keeping our trains 
operating on time. This is no time to forget railroad retirees and 
their families. Keep the Congress at work and restore full benefits to 
these railroad retirees.

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