[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 140 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6976-S6977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Mr.
Menendez, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs.
Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy,
Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray,
Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Warren, and
Mr. Whitehouse):
S. 2090. A bill to ensure that Social Security contributions made by
workers are available to pay all benefits which they have earned; to
the Committee on Finance.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I want to take a few minutes today to
discuss the enormous importance of America's most critical safety net
program--Social Security. In particular, I want to talk about the
Social Security Disability Insurance program and introduce a proposal
to secure the financing of Social Security. Of all the strands woven
together in America's safety net, disability insurance is one of the
most successful at keeping vulnerable people in Oregon and across the
country out of poverty. It is a vital lifeline for people who suffer
from catastrophic illnesses or disabilities, including a million
veterans. The time has come for Congress to take an expected but
important step to preserve Social Security's strength into the future.
The trust fund for the disability insurance portion of Social
Security is set to be depleted in 2016. This doesn't mean the program
will stop paying benefits but does mean that it will only have
dedicated tax revenue to pay about 80 percent of benefits. This isn't a
late-breaking crisis; this is something that Congress has anticipated
for more than two decades. And it is a simple issue to resolve.
For a defined-benefit system like Social Security, it is not unusual
to adjust the dials of funding between the retirement program and the
disability program as needed. That way, the entire program remains as
strong as possible. Benefits go out in full and on time. Nobody in
Oregon or elsewhere is stuck in limbo, worrying about suddenly being
unable to make rent or pay the bills.
Congress has adjusted resources within Social Security 11 times and
has shifted funding both to and from the disability insurance program.
The last time it did, in 1994, it set the disability insurance program
on strong footing for about 20 years. That is the practical way to
strengthen disability insurance for the future. I am introducing
legislation today along with 27 colleagues that would do just that, and
Ways and Means Ranking Member Levin is introducing a similar measure in
the House of Representatives.
This is a straightforward, commonsense proposal supported by a number
of prominent advocates for Americans with disabilities, including the
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Social Security Task Force,
Social Security Works, and the Strengthen Social Security Coalition.
Despite that, there are some members of Congress who are ringing
false alarm bells and insisting on changes to the program that may be
harmful to workers and beneficiaries. They make the misguided case that
disability insurance is plagued by fraud or that it is a big giveaway.
That is not the case--as I will explain in a moment.
The reason I am introducing this legislation now is the House of
Representatives has adopted a rule that prevents a clean reallocation
of funding between the retirement and disability programs. I want to
make sure that harmful changes to these programs are not included in
end-of-year or other must-pass legislation.
In my view, there are opportunities to further strengthen Social
Security,
[[Page S6977]]
and I believe the Congress should be open to policies that would not
harm workers and beneficiaries. However, it is important that Congress
not take any action that would reduce protections for those who desire
to attempt work, add more complexity in benefits or administration, or
rig up another trust fund depletion scenario. There have been some
ideas thrown around that don't pass those tests.
As Congress debates the future of disability insurance, it is
important to get the facts straight. First, the Social Security
Administration makes stopping program fraud and abuse a top priority.
Disability insurance payments are more than 99 percent accurate, due in
no small part to the agency's robust efforts to combat waste, fraud,
and abuse.
For example, the agency uses a highly effective method of preventing
improper payments called ``continuing disability reviews,'' which
returns $9 in savings for every dollar invested. The agency has
demonstrated that it can do this important work when we here in
Congress provide it with sufficient resources.
In addition, let me be clear: nobody is getting rich off of
disability insurance. The benefits average just over $1,100 a month,
which is slightly over the individual poverty level. If SSDI went away,
half of the families receiving benefits would fall into poverty.
And it is important to recognize that the qualifications for
disability insurance are strict, which means only those who are so
impaired they can't perform substantial work receive benefits. The
program is not a giveaway. Workers earn coverage by paying into the
program. Less than 40 percent of applications for disability insurance
are approved, even after appeals. The people who qualify suffer from
severe medical conditions that have derailed their lives and left them
extremely vulnerable. In my view, it is deeply unfair to delay the
simple changes that will keep the disability insurance program running
for years to come.
One year ago, the Finance Committee heard testimony from a woman
named Stephanie Dempsey who suffered from debilitating chronic
illnesses and received disability insurance benefits. Stephanie's long
list of health problems began in her late twenties, when she was
diagnosed with a hereditary heart disease. She had quadruple bypass
surgery at age 30. Over the following years, she had 27 stents placed
in her arteries over the course of several more operations. That
enormous burden was compounded by Lupus, arthritis, and a seizure
disorder. A mountain of prescription bottles was stacked on the witness
table the day Stephanie came before the Finance Committee.
As Stephanie told us, she wanted to work, but her illnesses made it
impossible. Rather than sliding backward into poverty or having to rely
entirely on others to stay afloat, disability insurance benefits helped
cover the bills.
I am sorry to say that Stephanie passed away in December. But there
are vulnerable people across the country who rely on disability
insurance in the same way Stephanie did. On the Social Security
Administration's website is a page where many of these individuals have
shared their stories.
Let me tell you about three other individuals who rely on disability
insurance: Charlotte, Christine, and Carrie.
Charlotte was working three jobs and pursuing her degree in social
work when she suffered two strokes in 2007. After the strokes,
Charlotte now has trouble getting around and climbing steps. She gets
help from her niece with day-to-day chores. She says disability
insurance keeps her from becoming homeless and helps her pay her bills,
afford her medications, and keep food on the table.
Christine has a disorder of the nervous system that has left her in a
wheelchair. Her disability insurance benefits give her independence.
She said that without Social Security, she would be stuck in a nursing
home, but instead, she is able to be a productive citizen.
Carrie is a mother who suffers from multiple sclerosis, MS. She
worked in the insurance industry and shrugged off the early symptoms of
her MS. But the fatigue and forgetfulness grew, and she became unable
to work. Carrie's Social Security benefits help her family pay for
food, clothes, and school supplies.
Mr. President, these individuals and millions more across the country
have earned their benefits, and they are relying on Congress to keep
both parts of Social Security running at full strength. I urge my
colleagues to work on a bipartisan basis to ensure that benefits
continue in full and as promised, to guarantee that millions of
vulnerable Americans remain protected.
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