[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 10091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4398]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

1994-95 Advisory Council on Social Security; Meeting

AGENCY: Social Security Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this 
notice announces Public Meetings to be held by the 1994-95 Advisory 
Council on Social Security (the Council).

DATES: Wednesday, March 8, 1995, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, 
March 9, 1995, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), 
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20036, (202) 857-9500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail--Dan Wartonick, 1994-95 
Advisory Council on Social Security, Room 624D, Hubert H. Humphrey 
Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201; By 
telephone--(202) 205-4861; By telefax--(202) 205-4879.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

    Under section 706 of the Social Security Act (the Act), the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) appoints the 
Council every 4 years. The Council examines issues affecting the Social 
Security Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) programs, 
as well as the Medicare program and impacts on the Medicaid program, 
which were created under the Act.
    In addition, the Secretary has asked the Council specifically to 
address the following:
     Social Security financing issues, including developing 
recommendations for improving the long-range financial status of the 
OASDI programs;
     General program issues such as the relative equity and 
adequacy of Social Security benefits for persons at various income 
levels, in various family situations, and various age cohorts, taking 
into account such factors as the increased labor force participation of 
women, lower marriage rates, increased likelihood of divorce, and 
higher poverty rates of aged women.
    In addressing these topics, the Secretary suggested that the 
Council may wish to analyze the relative roles of the public and 
private sectors in providing retirement income, how policies in both 
sectors affect retirement decisions and the economic status of the 
elderly, and how the disability insurance program provisions and the 
availability of health insurance and health care costs affect such 
matters.
    The Council is composed of 12 members in addition to the chairman: 
Robert Ball, Joan Bok, Ann Combs, Edith Fierst, Gloria Johnson, Thomas 
Jones, George Kourpias, Sylvester Schieber, Gerald Shea, Marc Twinney, 
Fidel Vargas, and Carolyn Weaver. The chairman is Edward Gramlich.
    The Council met previously on June 24-25 (59 FR 30367), July 29, 
1994 (59 FR 35942), September 29-30 (59 FR 47146), October 21-22 (59 FR 
51451), November 18-19 ( 59 FR 55272), January 27 (60 FR 3416) and 
February 10-11 (60 FR 5433).

II. Agenda

    The Council will consider views and comments from the public on the 
following subjects:
     Achieving long-term stability in financing the Social 
Security program including possible increases in contribution rates;
     Changing the normal and early retirement ages and other 
approaches to lowering benefits;
     Ensuring adequate retirement income and determining the 
role of private pensions and savings; and
     Ensuring equitable treatment under Social Security for 
dependents, disabled, survivors as well as retirees.
    The agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.
    The meeting is open to the public to the extent that space is 
available. Public officials, representatives of professional and 
advocacy organizations, concerned citizens, and Social Security and SSI 
recipients may speak and submit written comments on the issues 
considered by the Council. Interpreter services for persons with 
hearing impairments will be provided.
    In order to ensure that as many speakers as possible are given the 
opportunity to speak in the time allotted for public comment, each 
person will be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes. Because of the time 
limitations, individuals are requested to present comments in their 
order of importance. A written copy of comments should be prepared and 
presented to us, preferably in advance of the meeting. To ensure our 
full understanding and consideration of all of each speaker's concerns, 
we welcome written comments that provide a detailed and elaborative 
discussion of the subjects presented orally, as well as further written 
comments on other issues not presented orally. Persons unable to attend 
the meeting also may submit written comments. Written comments will 
receive the same consideration as oral comments.
    To request to speak, please telephone the Council at the 
information contact shown above, and provide the following: (1) Name; 
(2) business or residence address; (3) telephone or fax number 
(including area code) during normal working hours; and (4) capacity in 
which presentation will be made; i.e., public official, representative 
of an organization, or citizen. For planning purposes, we will 
appreciate receiving requests to speak 7 days before the date of the 
meeting.
    A transcript of the meeting will be available to the public on an 
at-cost-of duplication basis. The transcript can be ordered from the 
Executive Director of the Council. (Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Program Nos. 93.802, Social Security-Disability Insurance; 
93.803, Social Security-Retirement Insurance; 93.805, Social Security-
Survivors Insurance.) The transcript and all written submissions will 
become part of the record of these meetings.

    Dated: February 13, 1995.
David C. Lindeman,
Executive Director, 1994-95 Advisory Council on Social Security.
[FR Doc. 95-4398 Filed 2-22-95; 8:45 am]
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