[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE SERVICE OF THE LATE ROBERT MYERS, CHIEF ACTUARY AT THE 
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, AND RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE 
  SSA'S ACTUARIES PROVIDE TO CONGRESS, THEIR AGENCY, AND THE AMERICAN 
                                 PUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 2010

  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor actuaries in 
general and two actuaries in particular: the longtime actuary of the 
Social Security Administration (SSA), the late Robert J. Myers, and the 
current chief actuary, Stephen C. Goss.
  Bob Myers died February 13 of this year at the age of 97, and a 
memorial service was held for him this past weekend. Mr. Myers had a 
long, exemplary career with the Social Security Administration, 
starting in 1934 as a junior actuary with SSA's predecessor, the 
Committee on Economic Security. He later served for 23 years as the 
agency's chief actuary and was considered one of our country's foremost 
experts on Social Security.
  Bob played a vital role in developing the special relationship 
between Congress and the Office of the Actuary. Historically, the 
actuary has been available to provide Members of Congress and the 
executive branch with confidential, expert, impartial, and trustworthy 
analysis of Social Security policy and legislative proposals. The 
Office of the Chief Actuary has truly an unparalleled record of service 
in the federal government.
  Congress specifically recognized the value and importance of an 
independent and impartial actuary in the conference report accompanying 
Social Security's enabling statute, the ``Social Security 
Administrative Reform Act of 1994.'' This report said that ``The Office 
of the Actuary has a unique role within the agency in that it serves 
both the Administration and the Congress. . . . Thus, the independence 
of the Office of the Chief Actuary with respect to providing assistance 
to the Congress is vital in maintaining a trusting and useful 
relationship.'' (H. Report 103-670, at page 96)
  Though Bob left SSA in 1970, the tradition he established lives on in 
the work of the chief actuaries who came after him. SSA's current chief 
actuary, Steve Goss, is an outstanding example. Steve has been an 
actuary with SSA since 1973 and has served as its chief actuary since 
2001. To me and many of my colleagues, Steve personifies the meaning of 
public service.
  Steve's contributions have also been recognized by his colleagues and 
others. He received the Commissioner's Leadership Award in 1999 and was 
named a Presidential Distinguished Rank Executive in 2002. In 2004, he 
was the recipient of the very first Robert M. Ball Award for 
Outstanding Achievements in Social Insurance. Upon announcing their 
selection, the National Academy of Social Insurance described Steve 
this way:

       He gives tirelessly and selflessly of himself to try to 
     clarify, illuminate, and explain complex Social Security 
     issues and how estimates are made of revenues, expenses, and 
     actuarial projections within that program. He openly and 
     forthrightly invites suggestions and criticism, hoping to 
     improve the quality of his knowledge and the accuracy of 
     estimates put forward by SSA. Steve Goss and the entire 
     Office of the Chief Actuary provide an exemplary model of 
     integrity and transparency, while maintaining a very high 
     level of productivity.

  I could not agree more. Steve Goss has ably continued the tradition 
Bob Myers started that has kept the Office of the Chief Actuary a 
trustworthy and consistently reliable source for confidential and 
honest analysis on which Congress relies to make sound policy decisions 
affecting Social Security programs. I think Bob Myers would be very 
proud.
  I have worked personally with Steve for many years, and I look 
forward to relying on his expert knowledge and experience even more now 
that I am the chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security. The 
Social Security Administration could not have as great a reputation 
among my colleagues without Steve Goss. I congratulate and thank him 
for his service.

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