[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 2008 AS ``GO DIRECT MONTH''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 443.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 443) designating February 2008 as 
     ``Go Direct Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 443) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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 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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