The legislation is similar to bipartisan legislation introduced by Sen. Dick Lugar. The passage of this legislation is long overdue. The Social Security earnings test is bad for our economy and bad for individual senior Americans who wish to continue in the workforce. I am hopeful, however, that passage of this bill will not mark the end of thoughtful policy regarding the role of seniors in the American workforce.
Senior workers are an invaluable resource for our nation.
As the number of Americans of retirement age increases, the economy's need for senior workers will inevitably increase as well. Too often, government policy toward retirees has assumed that all seniors have the same needs, goals, and desires. Mr. President, each individual is different. Many seniors look forward to a leisurely retirement that allows them to pursue activities for which they did not have time when they were working. But other senior Americans wish to delay retirement for as long as possible.