[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S8064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. Grassley):
  S. 1666. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to 
improve the process for congressional consideration of international 
social security agreements; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise to speak in favor of my bill to 
improve the process for congressional consideration of International 
Social Security Agreements.
  International Social Security Agreements eliminate dual Social 
Security taxes when Americans work overseas for U.S. companies, and 
protect benefits for workers who divide their careers between two 
countries. As a result, American workers and their companies save 
approximately $800 million annually in foreign social security taxes.
  The current process for congressional disapproval of these agreements 
is invalid because it involves the unconstitutional use of a 
legislative veto. This fact has not been a problem, however, because 
Congress has never desired to reject an International Social Security 
Agreement. Indeed, we currently have 21 agreements with most of our top 
trading partners, such as Canada, Germany, and Japan. However, Congress 
needs to establish a constitutionally valid process for congressional 
consideration and either approval or rejection of International Social 
Security Agreements, similar to the process used for other agreements 
and treaties.
  The bill I am introducing today establishes such a process so that 
these important agreements can receive full consideration in the 
Congress. If either the House or the Senate determines that a 
particular agreement is a bad deal for U.S. workers or will harm the 
U.S. Social Security system, this bill will allow Congress to reject 
that agreement. Right now, that option does not exist under current 
law. This bill would fix that problem.
  The bill would require that an ``approval resolution'' be introduced 
in both the House and the Senate once an agreement is submitted to 
Congress by the administration. The resolution will need to be approved 
by both Houses of Congress before an agreement can take effect. Of 
course, either House can also reject the approval resolution to prevent 
an agreement from taking effect.
  The bill is cosponsored by Senator Grassley, ranking member of the 
Finance Committee. I appreciate the assistance that he and his staff 
provided in developing this legislation.
  I urge the Senate to approve this bill to establish a 
constitutionally valid process for Congress to consider and either 
approve or reject International Social Security Agreements.
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