[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 36 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS PROTECTION ACT

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 19, 2001

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Social 
Security Benefits Protection Act.
  The bill corrects an injustice under the Social Security Act which 
affects beneficiaries' families. Under current law, no Social Security 
benefit is paid for the month in which a recipient dies. A person could 
live until the last day of the month and still would not be entitled to 
the Social Security benefits for the month.
  The Social Security Benefits Protection Act corrects that injustice. 
Under the Act, benefits would be paid for the final month of a 
recipient's life. Regardless of when the person died, they would be 
entitled to the Social Security payment for the month in which they 
died.
  This small correction will provide a small benefit for the deceased 
person's survivors. Having lost a loved one, they should not lose the 
Social Security benefit for that person's last month of life.
  I urge my colleagues to join in cosponsoring the Social Security 
Benefits Protection Act.

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