[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 22 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E222]]
              SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important 
legislation.
  This legislation will repeal the Social Security earnings test for 
seniors between the ages of 65 and 69. It will benefit hundreds of 
thousands of senior citizens.
  In 1995, Congress enacted legislation with my support to increase the 
Social Security earnings test from $11,280 to $30,000 over seven years. 
Given the budget constraints at the time, that was the best we could 
do. But that action indicated that Congress realized that the earnings 
test, which was a useful policy when it was enacted, did not reflect 
the changes which had taken place in the senior population and the 
workforce in the subsequent years.
  Encouraging people to retire at age 65 made sense in the 1930s, when 
unemployment was at unprecedented levels--and in the 1970s, when once 
again we were faced with persistent high levels of unemployment. But 
under ordinary circumstances, the federal government shouldn't 
encourage people to give up their jobs when they reach a certain age--
especially today, when our country needs to take advantage of the 
skills and experience that many older Americans possess. Senior 
citizens who choose to continue working should be allowed to do so 
without being penalized. Consequently, I am pleased to support this 
landmark legislation.

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