[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT OF 1999

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5, the Senior 
Citizens Freedom to Work Act. Currently, eight-hundred thousand seniors 
lose some or all of their Social Security benefits due to the Social 
Security earnings limit. Seniors ages 65 to 69 have one dollar of their 
benefits off-set for every three dollars they earn over the $17,000 
income limit.
  I strongly support eliminating the earnings limit for every working 
senior receiving Social Security. Eliminating the earnings limit is not 
only the fair thing to do for working seniors, it would improve the 
quality and efficiency of Social Security as well. Repealing the 
earnings test will make Social Security easier and less expensive to 
administer. Contrary to the arguments of opponents of H.R. 5, repealing 
the earnings limit will not jeopardize the long-term solvency of Social 
Security. Under current law, workers who have their benefits reduced 
due to the earnings limit receive an actuarial adjustment that 
increases their benefits once they stop working.
  Mr. Speaker, repealing the earnings limit on working seniors is an 
area where there is a bipartisan consensus for action. I will continue 
to work to forge the same bipartisan consensus on more comprehensive 
action to strengthen Social Security for all of our seniors.

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