[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11513-S11514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BROWN:
  S. 2050. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to 
eliminate the five-month waiting period in the disability insurance 
program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Social Security 
Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act. This is a critical and 
long overdue piece of legislation and I urge my colleagues to give it 
due consideration and, ultimately, support.
  In the Senate, we are accustomed to making tough decisions on 
pressing issues that have a direct impact on the lives of Americans. 
But few issues are both as urgent and as uncomplicated as the one now 
present to the Chamber.
  This bill would waive the 5-month waiting period in the Social 
Security disability program for terminally ill patients--thus allowing 
those with just months to live to receive the Federal benefits they 
deserve. None of our fellow citizens should have to spend their last 
days haggling with the Federal Government for benefits that can help 
ease the financial burden associated with palliative care, death, and 
burial. Specifically, this bill would authorize disability benefits for 
any eligible individual whose disability is expected to or does result 
in the patient's death before the end of the current 5-month waiting 
period.
  This commonsense reform would grant justice to those, like Ohioan Mr. 
Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., who are being effectively ``waited out'' by the 
Government. Even though Mr. Woolweaver had worked and contributed to 
Social Security all his life and even though his disability due to 
cancer was easily verified by the Social Security Administration, he 
was still forced to wait . . . and wait . . . and wait. Unfortunately, 
it is now too late for Mr. Woolweaver, who passed away on June 12 of 
this year. Ultimately, Mr. Woolweaver was still waiting for his 
benefits, which would have totaled $1,800 per month, when he died this 
summer. This money could have helped Mr. Woolweaver's wife keep their 
house in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
  Like it or not, the Federal Government is often viewed as a faceless 
and heartless bureaucracy. This bill offers a chance to take a small 
step to change that image and restore faith in the system. I think I 
speak for most Americans when I say that I want my Government to be 
responsive, logical, and

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compassionate. This bill seeks to achieve that ideal.

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