[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ``THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY APPLICANTS' PROFESSIONAL 
                      REPRESENTATION ACT OF 2009''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2010

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4532, the 
Social Security Disability Applicants' Access to Professional 
Representation Act of 2009, which will authorize the permanent 
extension of the attorney and non-attorney fee-withholding provisions 
passed under the Social Security Protection Act of 2004. This important 
legislation will guarantee that seniors have access to the professional 
representation needed to secure the benefits that they deserve.
  I thank Chairman Rangel for his leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I would also like to thank the author of this legislation, 
Congressman Tanner, for his hard work and determined efforts to ensure 
that Americans are able to achieve financial security and stability in 
their old age.
  Madam Speaker, for seniors, getting Social Security benefits can be a 
rigorous process. Many seniors rely on professional representatives to 
help them complete applications, obtain medical evidence, and prepare 
themselves and other witnesses for hearings. H.R. 4532 will permanently 
extend critical provisions passed under the Social Security Protection 
Act of 2004 that allow representation fees to be withheld from Social 
Security Insurance (SSI) applicants' past-due benefits and paid 
directly to representatives. H.R. 4532 will also extend provisions that 
make qualified non-attorney representatives eligible to be paid through 
fee-withholding.
  The provisions set to be extended by H.R. 4532 will provide easy 
access to the qualified representation that many seniors need in order 
to secure their benefits. This legislation is especially important in 
these tough economic times. With limited income and increased health 
care needs, seniors across the country--and especially in my home State 
of California--have been hit particularly hard by the ongoing economic 
recession. Now, more than ever, we need to help the elderly access the 
benefits that they need to achieve financial stability.
  In conclusion, I support this bill because it will make the Social 
Security system more fair and easy to use for the 63,000 seniors in my 
district and millions more across the country. In order to uphold our 
obligation to senior citizens we must provide them with the resources 
needed to take advantage of available benefits. By helping senior 
citizens get the benefits they need, the Social Security Disability 
Applicants' Access to Professional Representation Act of 2009 
represents a much needed response to our Nation's current economic 
challenges.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
4532.

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