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(2) The Social Security Trustees Report has re-
peatedly recommended that Social Security’s long- 
term financial challenges be addressed soon. Each 
year without reform, the financial condition of Social 
Security becomes more precarious and the threat to 
seniors and those receiving Social Security disability 
benefits becomes more pronounced: 
(A) In 2016, the Disability Insurance 
Trust Fund will be exhausted and program rev-
enues will be unable to pay scheduled benefits. 
(B) In 2033, the combined Old-Age and 
Survivors and Disability Trust Funds will be 
exhausted, and program revenues will be unable 
to pay scheduled benefits. 
(C) With the exhaustion of the Trust 
Funds in 2033, benefits will be cut 25 percent 
across the board, devastating those currently in 
or near retirement and those who rely on Social 
Security the most. 
(3) The recession and continued low economic 
growth have exacerbated the looming fiscal crisis 
facing Social Security. The most recent CBO projec-
tions find that Social Security will run cash deficits 
of $1.319 trillion over the next 10 years. 
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(4) Lower-income Americans rely on Social Se-
curity for a larger proportion of their retirement in-
come. Therefore, reforms should take into consider-
ation the need to protect lower-income Americans’ 
retirement security. 
(5) The Disability Insurance program provides 
an essential income safety net for those with disabil-
ities and their families. According to the Congres-
sional Budget Office (CBO), between 1970 and 
2012, the number of people receiving disability bene-
fits (both disabled workers and their dependent fam-
ily members) has increased by over 300 percent 
from 2.7 million to over 10.9 million. This increase 
is not due strictly to population growth or decreases 
in health. David Autor and Mark Duggan have 
found that the increase in individuals on disability 
does not reflect a decrease in self-reported health. 
CBO attributes program growth to changes in demo-
graphics, changes in the composition of the labor 
force and compensation, as well as Federal policies. 
(6) If this program is not reformed, families 
who rely on the lifeline that disability benefits pro-
vide will face benefit cuts of up to 25 percent in 
2016, devastating individuals who need assistance 
the most. 
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(7) Americans deserve action by the President, 
the House, and the Senate to preserve and strength-
en Social Security. It is critical that bipartisan ac-
tion be taken to address the looming insolvency of 
Social Security. In this spirit, this resolution creates 
a bipartisan opportunity to find solutions by requir-
ing policymakers to ensure that Social Security re-
mains a critical part of the safety net. 
(b) POLICY STATEMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY.—It 
is the policy of this resolution that Congress should work 
on a bipartisan basis to make Social Security sustainably 
solvent. This resolution assumes reform of a current law 
trigger, such that: 
(1) If in any year the Board of Trustees of the 
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust 
Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust 
Fund annual Trustees Report determines that the 
75-year actuarial balance of the Social Security 
Trust Funds is in deficit, and the annual balance of 
the Social Security Trust Funds in the 75th year is 
in deficit, the Board of Trustees shall, no later than 
September 30 of the same calendar year, submit to 
the President recommendations for statutory re-
forms necessary to achieve a positive 75-year actu-
arial balance and a positive annual balance in the 
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75th-year. Recommendations provided to the Presi-
dent must be agreed upon by both Public Trustees 
of the Board of Trustees. 
(2) Not later than December 1 of the same cal-
endar year in which the Board of Trustees submit 
their recommendations, the President shall promptly 
submit implementing legislation to both Houses of 
Congress including his recommendations necessary 
to achieve a positive 75-year actuarial balance and 
a positive annual balance in the 75th year. The Ma-
jority Leader of the Senate and the Majority Leader 
of the House shall introduce the President’s legisla-
tion upon receipt. 
(3) Within 60 days of the President submitting 
legislation, the committees of jurisdiction to which 
the legislation has been referred shall report the bill 
which shall be considered by the full House or Sen-
ate under expedited procedures. 
(4) Legislation submitted by the President 
shall— 
(A) protect those in or near retirement; 
(B) preserve the safety net for those who 
count on Social Security the most, including 
those with disabilities and survivors; 
(C) improve fairness for participants; 
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(D) reduce the burden on, and provide cer-
tainty for, future generations; and 
(E) secure the future of the Disability In-
surance program while addressing the needs of 
those with disabilities today and improving the 
determination process. 
SEC. 705. POLICY STATEMENT ON HIGHER EDUCATION AF-
FORDABILITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The House finds the following: 
(1) A well-educated workforce is critical to eco-
nomic, job, and wage growth. 
(2) More than 21 million students are enrolled 
in American colleges and universities. 
(3) Over the last decade, tuition and fees have 
been growing at an unsustainable rate. Between the 
2001-2002 Academic Year and the 2011-2012 Aca-
demic Year: 
(A) Published tuition and fees for in-State 
students at public four-year colleges and univer-
sities increased at an average rate of 5.6 per-
cent per year beyond the rate of general infla-
tion. 
(B) Published tuition and fees for in-State 
students at public two-year colleges and univer-
sities increased at an average rate of 3.8 per-
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