[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8--RELATIVE TO COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

  Mr. ROBB submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs:

                             S. Con. Res. 8

       Whereas over the years Federal retirees have been asked to 
     share in efforts to reduce the deficit by delaying their 
     annual cost-of-living adjustment while retirees under other 
     Federal programs who also receive cost-of-living adjustments 
     were not delayed:
       Whereas it would be inequitable to continue delaying cost-
     of-living adjustments for Federal retirees when like delays 
     for similarly situated retirees under other systems are not 
     under consideration: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the United States Senate (the House 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that cost-
     of-living adjustments for Federal retirees should be paid at 
     the same time as other retirees receiving federal cost-of-
     living adjustments.

  Mr. ROBB. Madam President, I submit a concurrent resolution 
expressing the sense of the Congress that all Federal annuitants should 
receive their cost-of-living adjustments at the same time.
  This resolution is very similar to one submitted by my colleague from 
Maryland, and cosponsored by the other distinguished Senator from 
Maryland and my own esteemed colleague, the senior Senator from 
Virginia. And while I agree with them in spirit, I could not support 
the wording of their resolution so I am here to offer my own.
  As we are all aware by now, the President's budget proposal would 
delay Federal retiree cost-of-living adjustments from their statutory 
date of January 1 to April 1 until the year 2002. This same budget 
proposal, however, would leave the effective date for COLA's for other 
Federal COLA recipients at January 1, thus singling out Federal 
civilian retirees as the only Federal beneficiaries with their COLA's 
delayed. This seems blatantly unfair and violates the principle of COLA 
equity that so many of us have espoused over the years. If the budget 
justification is there to delay one group, then why isn't it there for 
the others? Conversely, if there is a policy justification for not 
delaying certain retirees, then why are Federal retirees any different?
  I could not join my colleagues in cosponsoring their resolution 
because I can see a point where a policy decision to treat everyone 
equitably could result in delaying COLA's across all of these programs. 
That is not what I believe we need to do this year, and I'll continue 
to support efforts to equalize COLA's in January. I could not, however, 
in good conscience cosponsor a resolution which I might contradict at a 
later point in time.
  As an alternative, I am offering a concurrent resolution which 
expresses the sense of the Congress that COLA's for all of these 
Federal annuitants and beneficiaries should be paid at the same time. 
The resolution deliberately does not state a date certain, simply that 
the principle of equity between them should prevail.

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