[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1363-1364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 443--DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2008 AS ``GO DIRECT MONTH''

  Mrs. DOLE submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 443

       Whereas, in fiscal year 2007, nearly 60,000 checks issued 
     by the Department of the Treasury, worth approximately 
     $56,000,000, were endorsed by forgery;
       Whereas the Department of the Treasury receives 
     approximately 1,400,000 inquiries each year regarding 
     problems with paper checks;
       Whereas, each month, nearly 12,000,000 social security and 
     other Federal benefit payments are made with checks;
       Whereas the United States would generate approximately 
     $132,000,000 in annual savings if all Federal benefit checks 
     were paid by direct deposit;
       Whereas the use of direct deposit is a more secure, 
     reliable, and cost-effective method of payment than paper 
     checks because the use of direct deposit--
       (1) helps protect against identity theft and fraud;
       (2) provides easier access to funds during emergencies and 
     natural disasters; and
       (3) provides the people of the United States with more 
     control over their money;

       Whereas the Department of the Treasury and the Federal 
     Reserve Banks have launched Go Direct, a national campaign to 
     motivate people who receive Federal benefit payments to use 
     direct deposit to receive those payments;
       Whereas Go Direct works with more than 1,100 partners 
     across the Nation, including financial institutions, advocacy 
     groups, and community organizations;
       Whereas more than 130 financial institutions representing 
     25,000 branches nationwide participated in the 2007 ``Go 
     Direct Champions'' competition to encourage the use of direct 
     deposit among people who receive Federal benefit payments; 
     and
       Whereas more than 1,600,000 people in the United States 
     have switched from paper checks to direct deposit to receive 
     Federal

[[Page 1364]]

     benefit payments since Go Direct launched in the fall of 
     2004: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates February 2008 as ``Go Direct Month'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of the Go Direct 
     campaign;
       (3) commends Federal, State, and local governments, 
     nonprofit agencies, and the private sector for promoting 
     February as Go Direct Month; and
       (4) encourages people in the United States who are eligible 
     to receive social security or other Federal benefit payments 
     to--
       (A) participate in events and awareness initiatives held 
     during the month of February with respect to using direct 
     deposit;
       (B) become informed about the convenience and safety of 
     direct deposit; and
       (C) consider signing up for direct deposit of social 
     security or other Federal benefit payments.

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