[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCING THE TEXAS EDUCATOR RETIREMENT EQUITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2005

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Texas Educator 
Retirement Equity Act, which restores to widowed Texas public school 
teachers the means to receive the same spousal Social Security benefits 
as every other American. As I am sure my colleagues are aware, widowed 
public school employees in Texas, like public employees throughout the 
Nation, have their spousal Social Security benefits reduced if they 
receive a government pension. This ``Government Pension Offset'' 
affects Texas teachers who work in school districts that do not 
participate in Social Security and even applies if the teacher in 
question worked all the quarters necessary to qualify for full Social 
Security benefits either before or after working in the public school 
system!
  Until last year, Texas schoolteachers could qualify for full widow 
benefits by working one day in a school that participates in Social 
Security. Unfortunately, last year Congress took that option away from 
Texas teachers.
  One consequence of this action is that many teachers have taken early 
retirement while others have been discouraged from entering teaching. 
Thus, the victims of this action are not only Texas teachers, but also 
Texas school children who are denied access to quality teachers.
  Passing the Texas Educator Retirement Equity Act is a good first step 
toward treating teachers fairly. Of course, I remain committed to 
working to pass H.R. 147, the Social Security Fairness Act that repeals 
both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination 
Provision, another provision that denies public employees full Social 
Security benefits.
  Congress should also be encouraging good people to enter the 
education profession by passing my Teacher Tax Cut Act (H.R. 402) that 
provides every teacher with a $1,000 tax credit, as well as my 
Professional Educators Tax Relief Act (H.R. 405) that provides a $1,000 
tax credit to counselors, librarians, and all school personnel.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
enabling Texas teachers to obtain the Social Security benefits for 
which they would be eligible if they were not teachers by cosponsoring 
the Texas Educator Retirement Equity Act.

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