IV
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 209
Honoring the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program upon the
60th anniversary of the enactment of the Social Security Act.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 2, 1995
Mr. BUNNING of Kentucky (for himself and Mr. JACOBS) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
RESOLUTION
Honoring the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram upon the 60th anniversary of the enactment of
the Social Security Act.
Whereas on August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the
Social Security Act, which represents one of the most sig-
nificant legislative achievements of the 20th century;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram, established in its original form in the enactment of
the Social Security Act, represents a national commit-
ment between the American Government and the people;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram is one of our Nation’s most popular and effective
programs, with a track record of nearly 60 years;
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Whereas 141,000,000 persons, along with their employers,
pay into the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
program;
Whereas a benefit under the old-age, survivors, and disability
insurance program is an earned benefit for workers and
their families when a wage earner retires, becomes dis-
abled, or dies;
Whereas over 44,000,000 persons, including 3,000,000 chil-
dren, receive benefits under the old-age, survivors, and
disability insurance program that are automatically ad-
justed against erosion by inflation;
Whereas over 95 percent of those aged 65 and over are eligi-
ble for benefits under the old-age, survivors, and disabil-
ity insurance program, 4 out of 5 workers have worked
long enough so that they could get benefits under the
program if they became severely disabled, and 98 percent
of today’s children would receive a monthly benefit under
the program if a working parent died;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram provides a floor of retirement income, to be supple-
mented by private savings and pensions;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram is the Nation’s most successful anti-poverty pro-
gram, saving 15,000,000 persons from poverty;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram is viewed by the public as one of the very most im-
portant Government programs and as a pillar of eco-
nomic security;
Whereas benefits under the old-age, survivors, and disability
insurance program help to maintain the independence
and dignity of all who receive them;
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Whereas the American public has rejected cutting benefits
under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram to reduce the Federal deficit;
Whereas the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance pro-
gram is a self-financed program that, in 1994, had over
$436,000,000,000 in reserves; and
Whereas reforms of the old-age, survivors, and disability in-
surance program historically have been made only to
strengthen the program’s long-term integrity and sol-
vency: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the old-age, survivors, and disability in-
surance program, originating with the enactment of the
Social Security Act, should be maintained and that any
changes to the program should be made only to preserve
benefits and strengthen the long-term solvency and integ-
rity of the program, which has provided economic security
for tens of millions of Americans of all ages.
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