Congressional Record, Senate, July 26, 2021, Page S5070

Summary

A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated July 26, 2021, at page S5070, carrying a memorial and bills introduced. House Concurrent Resolution No. 7 of the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the United States Congress to review the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision, which reduce Social Security benefits for people with public pensions, and to support H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. S. 2469, by Mr. Braun and Ms. Ernst, would establish appropriate thresholds for certain budget points of order in the Senate. S. 2470, by Mr. Hawley, would prohibit Federal funding for educational agencies and schools whose students do not read certain foundational texts of the United States.

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“Congressional Record, Senate, July 26, 2021, Page S5070.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-07-26-crec-2021-07-26-pt1-pgs5070-3-7b81a4ab90/, SHA-256 0326927dfe654b388541cfbeafc83c023513fa53791718ceb685a75fbd55ee12.

Full text

S5070 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 26, 2021
similar legislation and to take such actions Whereas, the GPO and WEP are established lina, and for other purposes; to the Com-
as are necessary to review and eliminate all in federal law, and repeal of the GPO and the mittee on Energy and Natural Resources.
provisions of federal law which reduce Social WEP can only be enacted by congress: There- By Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Ms.
Security benefits for those receiving pension fore, be it ERNST):
benefits from federal, state, or local govern- Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana S. 2469. A bill establishing appropriate
ment retirement or pension systems, plans, does hereby memorialize the United States thresholds for certain budget points of order
or funds; to the Committee on Finance. Congress to take all such actions as are nec- in the Senate, and for other purposes; to the
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7 essary to review the Government Pension Committee on the Budget.
Whereas, the Congress of the United States Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provi- By Mr. HAWLEY:
of America has enacted both the Government sion Social Security benefit reductions and S. 2470. A bill to prohibit Federal funding
Pension Offset (GPO), reducing the spousal to eliminate or reduce them by supporting for educational agencies and schools whose
and survivor Social Security benefit, and the H.R. 82 of the 117th Congress, the Social Se- students do not read certain foundational
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), re- curity Fairness Act and all similar purposed texts of the United States and are not able
ducing the earned Social Security benefits legislation; and be it further to recite those texts or that teach that those
payable to any person who also receives a Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be texts are products of white supremacy or
public pension benefit; and transmitted to the presiding officers of the racism; to the Committee on Health, Edu-
Whereas, the GPO negatively affects a Senate and the House of Representatives of cation, Labor, and Pensions.
spouse or survivor receiving a federal, state, the Congress of the United States of America By Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Ms. COL-
or local government retirement or pension and to each member of the Louisiana con- LINS, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CAS-
benefit who would also be entitled to a So- gressional delegation and the president of SIDY, and Mr. WYDEN):
cial Security benefit earned by a spouse; and the United States. S. 2471. A bill to establish a community
Whereas, the GPO formula reduces the f disaster assistance fund for housing and
spousal or survivor Social Security benefit community development and to authorize
by two-thirds of the amount of the federal, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-
state, or local government retirement or ment to provide, from the fund, assistance
The following reports of committees through a community development block
pension benefit received by the spouse or
were submitted: grant disaster recovery program, and for
survivor, in many cases completely elimi-
nating the Social Security benefit even By Mr. PETERS, from the Committee on other purposes; to the Committee on Bank-
though their spouses paid Social Security Homeland Security and Governmental Af- ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
taxes for many years; and fairs, without amendment: By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and
Whereas, the GPO has a harsh effect on S. 517. A bill to provide for joint reports by Ms. WARREN):
hundreds of thousands of citizens and under- relevant Federal agencies to Congress re- S. 2472. A bill to prohibit the non-consen-
mines the original purpose of the Social Se- garding incidents of terrorism, and for other sual release of claims by States, municipali-
curity dependent/survivor benefit; and purposes (Rept. No. 117–31). ties, federally recognized Tribes, or the
Whereas, according to recent Social Secu- S. 1917. A bill to establish a K–12 education United States against non-debtors, and for
rity Administration figures, more than half cybersecurity initiative, and for other pur- other purposes; to the Committee on the Ju-
a million individuals nationally are affected poses (Rept. No. 117–32). diciary.
by the GPO; and f By Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr.
Whereas, the WEP applies to those persons KING):
who have earned federal, state, or local gov- EXECUTIVE REPORT OF S. 2473. A bill to provide grants for the con-
ernment retirement or pension benefits, in COMMITTEE struction, improvement, and acquisition of
addition to working in employment covered middle mile infrastructure; to the Com-
under Social Security and paying into the The following executive report of a mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
Social Security system; and nomination was submitted: tation.
Whereas, the WEP reduces the earned So- By Ms. STABENOW for the Committee on By Mr. COTTON (for himself and Mr.
cial Security benefit using an averaged in- Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. WARNER):
dexed monthly earnings formula and may re- *Jennifer Lester Moffitt, of California, to S. 2474. A bill to prohibit the use of funds
duce Social Security benefits for affected be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Mar- made available under the American Rescue
persons by as much as one-half of the retire- keting and Regulatory Programs. Plan Act of 2021 to purchase communications
ment benefit earned as a public servant in equipment or services that pose a national
employment not covered under Social Secu-
*Nomination was reported with rec-
security risk; to the Committee on Com-
rity; and ommendation that it be confirmed sub-
merce, Science, and Transportation.
Whereas, the WEP causes hardworking in- ject to the nominee’s commitment to
dividuals to lose a significant portion of the respond to requests to appear and tes- f
Social Security benefits that they earn tify before any duly constituted com- SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND
themselves; and mittee of the Senate. SENATE RESOLUTIONS
Whereas, according to recent Social Secu-
rity Administration figures, more than one f The following concurrent resolutions
and a half million individuals nationally are INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND and Senate resolutions were read, and
affected by the WEP; and referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
Whereas, in certain circumstances, both JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr.
the WEP and the GPO can be applied to a The following bills and joint resolu-
qualifying survivor’s benefit, each independ- PADILLA, and Mr. SULLIVAN):
tions were introduced, read the first S. Res. 318. A resolution expressing support
ently reducing the available benefit and in and second times by unanimous con-
combination eliminating a large portion of for the designation of July 2021 as ‘‘Amer-
sent, and referred as indicated: ican Grown Flower and Foliage Month’’; to
the total Social Security benefit available to
the survivor; and By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
Whereas, because of the calculation char- TOOMEY, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. CASEY, and Forestry.
acteristics of the GPO and the WEP, they Ms. COLLINS, Mr. COONS, Mr. DURBIN, By Mr. JOHNSON:
have a disproportionately negative effect on Ms. HASSAN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KAINE, S. Res. 319. A resolution expressing support
employees working in lower-wage govern- Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. for the designation of July 2021 as ‘‘National
ment jobs, like policemen, firefighters, PORTMAN, Mr. WARNER, Ms. WARREN, Sarcoma Awareness Month’’; to the Com-
teachers, and state employees; and and Mr. YOUNG): mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Whereas, Louisiana is making every effort S. 2466. A bill to reform the Federal sugar Pensions.
to improve the quality of life of its citizens program, and for other purposes; to the Com- By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and
and to encourage them to live here lifelong, mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For- Mr. BLUNT):
yet the current GPO and WEP provisions estry. S. Res. 320. A resolution authorizing the
compromise their quality of life; and By Mr. CASSIDY: taking of a photograph in the Senate Cham-
Whereas, the number of people affected by S. 2467. A bill to provide for a Public ber; considered and agreed to.
GPO and WEP is growing every day as more Health Emergency Fund, and for other pur- f
and more people reach retirement age; and poses; to the Committee on Health, Edu-

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Whereas, individuals drastically affected cation, Labor, and Pensions. ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS
by the GPO or WEP may have no choice but By Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. S. 67
to return to work after retirement in order SCOTT of Florida):
to make ends meet, but the earnings accu- S. 2468. A bill to amend the Gulf of Mexico At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the
mulated during this return to work can fur- Energy Security Act of 2006 to extend the name of the Senator from California
ther reduce the Social Security benefits the moratorium on drilling off the coasts of the (Mr. PADILLA) was added as a cosponsor
individual is entitled to; and States of Florida, Georgia, and South Caro- of S. 67, a bill to support efforts by

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