FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: (202) 225-9263
July 15, 1997
No. SS-8
Congressman Jim Bunning (R-KY), Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on barriers preventing Social Security disability recipients from returning to work. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 23, 1997, in the main Committee hearing room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
In view of the limited time available to hear witnesses, oral testimony at this hearing will be from invited witnesses only. However, any individual or organization not scheduled for an oral appearance may submit a written statement for consideration by the Committee and for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing.
BACKGROUND:
Between 1985 and 1994, the number of working-age recipients on the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability rolls increased 59 percent. In addition, disabled recipients are staying on the rolls longer than in the past because of increased life expectancy, a lower average age of disability recipients due to the baby boom cohort, and an increase of awardees with disabling mental impairments who tend to be younger and physically healthier.
In 1996, fewer than 6 percent of new disability recipients were referred to State vocational rehabilitation agencies for services, and historically, less than of 1 percent of disabled recipients leave the rolls because of successful rehabilitation. These facts underscore the need for initiatives designed to encourage disabled recipients to receive rehabilitation services and to enter the workforce.
To help Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability recipients who want to return to a life of financial independence and self sufficiency, Chairman Bunning introduced H.R. 4230, the Rehabilitation and Return to Work Opportunity Act of 1996, last Congress. Since then, similar legislation (H.R. 534, Transition to Work Act of 1997) has been introduced by ranking member Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), and the Administration has included a related proposal in the President's fiscal year 1998 budget.
In announcing the hearing, Chairman Bunning stated: "Social Security disability recipients are not getting the rehabilitation services they deserve. It isn't fair for anyone to face a life of dependency and denied opportunities unnecessarily. It's time to remove the barriers and provide real rehabilitation assistance for those who want to return to work."
FOCUS OF THE HEARING:
During the hearing, the Subcommittee will receive the views of various agencies, experts, consumers, and providers regarding the barriers which prevent Social Security disability recipients from returning to work, and will hear recommendations on what changes in the law are needed to remove those barriers.
DETAILS FOR SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS:
Any person or organization wishing to submit a written statement for the printed record of the hearing should submit at least six (6) single-space legal-size copies of their statement, along with an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS Text format only, with their name, address, and hearing date noted on a label, by the close of business, Wednesday, August 6, 1997, to A.L. Singleton, Chief of Staff, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. If those filing written statements wish to have their statements distributed to the press and interested public at the hearing, they may deliver 200 additional copies for this purpose to the Subcommittee on Social Security office, room B-316 Rayburn House Office Building, at least one hour before the hearing begins.
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:
Each statement presented for printing to the Committee by a witness, any written statement or exhibit submitted for the printed record or any written comments in response to a request for written comments must conform to the guidelines listed below. Any statement or exhibit not in compliance with these guidelines will not be printed, but will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.
1. All statements and any accompanying exhibits for printing must be typed in single space on legal-size paper and may not exceed a total of 10 pages including attachments. At the same time written statements are submitted to the Committee, witnesses are now requested to submit their statements on an IBM compatible 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII DOS Text format.
2. Copies of whole documents submitted as exhibit material will not be accepted for printing. Instead, exhibit material should be referenced and quoted or paraphrased. All exhibit material not meeting these specifications will be maintained in the Committee files for review and use by the Committee.
3. A witness appearing at a public hearing, or submitting a statement for the record of a public hearing, or submitting written comments in response to a published request for comments by the Committee, must include on his statement or submission a list of all clients, persons, or organizations on whose behalf the witness appears.
4. A supplemental sheet must accompany each statement listing the name, full address, a telephone number where the witness or the designated representative may be reached and a topical outline or summary of the comments and recommendations in the full statement. This supplemental sheet will not be included in the printed record.
The above restrictions and limitations apply only to material being submitted for printing. Statements and exhibits or supplementary material submitted solely for distribution to the Members, the press and the public during the course of a public hearing may be submitted in other forms.
The
Committee seeks to make its facilities accessible to persons with
disabilities. If you are in need of special accommodations, please
call 202/225-1721 or 202/226-3411 TTD/TTY in advance of the event
(four business days notice is requested). Questions with regard to
special accommodation needs in general (including availability of
Committee materials in alternative formats) may be directed to the
Committee as noted above.