[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FAIRNESS ACT OF 1996

  (Mr. HOLDEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
cosponsor a bill I am introducing today, the Social Security Benefits 
Fairness Act of 1996.
  Under current law, no Social Security benefits are paid for the month 
of a death. When a person dies, their family is not entitled to the 
benefits and must send back the Social Security check, even if they 
lived to the end of the month. This happened to a family in my 
district.
  Phyllis Strunk's husband, Royden, died on May 31, 1996, at 7:04 p.m. 
almost living the entire month and incurring living expenses. His wife 
was told she would not receive her husband's benefits for May because 
he did not live 4 hours and 56 minutes longer.
  This is unfair and absurd.
  My bill will put fairness and security back into Social Security. 
Under my bill, if a person dies before the 15th day of a month, the 
family will receive \1/2\ of the month's benefits. If a person dies 
after the 15th, the family would receive the entire amount of the 
benefits.
  It is simple and fair. Please join me in this effort and cosponsor 
the Social Security Benefits Fairness Act of 1996.

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