[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 134 (Thursday, October 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ENCOURAGE INITIATIVE AND SELF-ESTEEM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for a bill I 
have just introduced, H.R. 4095, the Encourage Initiative and Promote 
Self-Esteem Act of 2005.
  There are many people in our country who receive Social Security 
Disability benefits (SSD) because they have a ``waxing and waning'' 
disease--Behcet's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Parkinson's, 
Cancer, AIDS and Arthritis are examples of ``waxing and waning'' 
diseases. Eric Peterson, who lives in my Congressional District, has 
taught me a great deal about these diseases and the need for a better 
way for people to seek and keep SSD.
  This process of seeking SSD and keeping it is often times an 
adversarial one. The climate of suspicion that applicants and 
recipients say they feel leaves many to view the Social Security 
Administration, SSA, with a jaundiced eye. Everyone who actually gains 
disability benefits remembers the hoops of fire they had to jump 
through during the application process. As a result, many people often 
do not consider a try at working, fearing that the SSA will use that 
against them to deny future benefits. With concerns over fraudulent 
claims, I can understand how this environment came to be. But that 
doesn't make it right.
  For people with ``waxing and waning'' diseases and conditions, they 
know that they will have good days and bad. They know that, barring a 
cure, they will always be sick, but that does not diminish their 
spirit. There needs to be a program that encourage people in this 
situation to secure temporary employment when they feel they can work 
without placing their SSD at risk for the times they cannot work.
  Currently, if a person makes more than $810 a month, disability 
benefits will stop. If one makes $810 but then has less money than his 
SSD, there is no incentive to work. H.R. 4095 would install a system 
based on a sliding scale. The more money one earns, the fewer benefits 
he or she receives. But there will be a built-in incentive to stay the 
course because the total monthly income when working will be more than 
either the work income or SSD.
  In addition, if a person makes $300 or more a month, their review is 
put aside. This incentive will further encourage people to push 
themselves to continue working if at all possible.
  Imagine a situation where those on SSD who have diseases that ``wax 
and wane'' could work, without fear, when able. That would be a lot of 
money put back into the Treasury in payroll withholdings and taxes--and 
more money put into the economy in increased purchasing, not to mention 
the contribution to society and elevated self-esteem of the workers. 
Think about the faith these people would have in a system of government 
that treats its people with dignity and respect instead of suspicion 
and contempt.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4095 improve the lives of 
thousands of Americans.

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