[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 113 (Thursday, July 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1429]
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, July 10, 2008

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge support for a bill I 
have just introduced, H.R. 6457, the ``Encourage Initiative and Promote 
Self-Esteem Act''.
  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.
  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 jaundice 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 encourages 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.
  H.R. 6457 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.
  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. 6457 to improve the lives of 
thousands of Americans.

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