[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 122 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S8983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WIPA AND PABSS REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I urge the Senate to pass by unanimous 
consent the WIPA and PABSS Reauthorization Act of 2009--H.R. 3325--
which was passed recently by the House of Representatives. The bill 
will extend, for 1 year, two programs that provide important assistance 
for Social Security and supplemental security income, SSI, disability 
beneficiaries who would like to return to work.
  Both of these programs were included in the Ticket to Work and Work 
Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which passed Congress with 
bipartisan support. Under the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance, 
WIPA, program, the Social Security Administration, SSA, funds 
community-based organizations to provide personalized assistance to 
Social Security and SSI disability beneficiaries who want to work, by 
helping these beneficiaries understand SSA's complex work incentive 
policies and the effect that working will have on their benefits. This 
program can help to reduce the fears many beneficiaries have about 
attempting to return to work.
  Under the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social 
Security, PABSS, Program, SSA awards grants to protection and advocacy 
systems to provide legal advocacy services that beneficiaries need to 
secure, maintain, or regain employment. The PABSS Program also provides 
beneficiaries with information and advice about obtaining vocational 
rehabilitation and employment services.
  The Finance Committee and other committees in Congress have received 
testimony from disability advocates and other stakeholders about the 
importance of these programs to increasing employment among disability 
beneficiaries.
  The Social Security Administration is currently authorized to spend 
$23 million annually from its administrative budget to fund the WIPA 
Program, and $7 million annually to fund the PABSS Program. However, 
the authorization for both programs expires on September 30, 2009.
  This bill will extend the WIPA and PABSS Programs for 1 year, with no 
changes, while the relevant committees in Congress consider a longer 
term reauthorization. This 1-year extension will ensure that these 
programs can continue to provide disability beneficiaries with the 
assistance they need to return to work.
  I thank my colleagues for their support for temporarily extending 
these important programs.

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