[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, last month, the Social Security 
Administration announced proposed plans to close the Social Security 
field office in Amherst, New York, among other regional offices. This 
proposal is both unnecessary and ill-conceived and threatens the 
ability of seniors, international students, and individuals with 
disabilities to access critical services.
  In response to this, I plan to introduce the Social Security 
Administration Accountability Act, which would require that the Social 
Security Administration provide Congress and local communities with 
adequate notice and justification for field office closings.
  This bill would require that Congress receive a report which includes 
caseload data, service population, and staffing levels at field 
offices, as well as the process by which offices are selected for 
closing.
  Mr. Speaker, the recent FY 2014 budget appropriated an additional 
$11.7 billion to the Social Security Administration for administrative 
expenses, which should provide the financial stability to alleviate the 
need to close field offices across the country.
  I urge my colleagues to support this request.

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