FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (202) 225-3625
April 23, 1998
No. FC 23-A
Congressman Bill Archer (R-TX), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that on Wednesday, April 22, 1998, the Committee ordered favorably reported,
H.R. 1023, the "Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998," as amended, by voice vote, and H.R. 3546, the "National Dialogue on Social Security Act of 1998," as amended, by voice vote.
BACKGROUND ON H.R. 1023:
Under a recent settlement, four manufacturers of blood plasma products would pay $100,000 to each of 6,200 hemophilia patients who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Payments made under the settlement to these individuals would in most instances cause them to exceed the income and/or resource limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under the SSI program, income is anything a person receives that can be used to obtain food, clothing, or shelter, unless it is specifically exempted by Federal law; in recent years, many compensatory payments have been excluded from being counted as income and/or resources under the SSI program. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that there are about 1,250 individuals with hemophilia who currently receive SSI.
H.R. 1023, as reported by the Committee on Judiciary, would authorize a $750 million Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund. Eligible individuals (i.e., individuals with a blood-clotting disorder who used certain anti-hemophilic factors and, in certain cases, their spouses and children) would receive a $100,000 payment from the Fund.
DESCRIPTION OF H.R. 1023 AS APPROVED:
The bill, as approved by the Committee on Ways and Means, stipulates that neither the $100,000 private settlement payments in the hemophilia-clotting-factor suit nor the $100,000 Federal payments from the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund are to be considered income or resources in determining eligibility for, or the amount of benefits under, the SSI program. The bill would also clarify that the $100,000 Federal payments from the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund would not be subject to Federal income tax.DESCRIPTION OF H.R. 3546 AS APPROVED:
Title I - Establishment of a National Dialogue on Social Security
A National Dialogue on Social Security would be convened to engage the American public, through regional conferences, and national Internet exchanges, in understanding the current program, the problems it faces, and the need to find solutions that will be workable for all generations.
The Dialogue would be coordinated through two Facilitators (one appointed by the President -- in consultation with the Minority Leaders of the House and Senate, and one appointed jointly by the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader), who would be appointed within 30 days of enactment.
A Dialogue Council would be established to advise the Facilitators in the development and operations of the National Dialogue. The Dialogue Council would be composed of 36 members, representing multiple generations, appointed by the President and Congressional Leadership. Those who are appointed would be selected from a group of 50 individuals -- consisting of 2 individuals nominated by each of the following 25 organizations: the American Association of Retired Persons; the United Seniors Association; the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations; the National Hispanic Council on Aging; the Older Women's League; the Association of Private Pension and Welfare Plans; the Cato Institute; the Employee Benefit Research Institute; Americans Discuss Social Security; the Third Millennium; the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce; Americans for Hope, Growth, and Opportunity; the National Federation of Independent Businesses; the Concord Coalition; the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged; the Campaign for America's Future; the Heritage Foundation; the Brookings Institution; the 2030 Center; the National Council of Senior Citizens; the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities; the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; the United States Chamber of Commerce; the Pension Rights Center; and the Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities.
The National Dialogue would operate by means of sponsorship by private, nonpartisan organizations of conferences. These conferences would be convened in localities which are geographically representative of the Nation as a whole, and which would provide for participation representative of all age groups.
The Facilitators would appoint an Internet Dialogue Coordinator to assist Members in establishing systems of communication in their districts.
The National Dialogue Facilitators would summarize their findings and submit these to the Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform on an ongoing basis, based on information generated by participants in conferences conducted and constituent input received from Members' offices. The Dialogue would terminate January 1, 1999.
Title II - Bipartisan Panel to Design Long-Range Social Security Reform
A bipartisan panel would be created to design a single package of long-range Social Security reforms for restoring the solvency of the Social Security system and maintaining retirement income security.
The Panel would be made up of eightmembers: four appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate, two appointed by the President, and two appointed jointly by the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House. These officials would designate two members of the Panel to serve as Co-Chairs.
The members of the Panel would consist of individuals of recognized standing and distinction, who can represent the multiple generations with a stake in the viability of the system, and who possess a demonstrated capacity to discharge the duties imposed on the Panel. At least one of the members would be appointed from individuals representing the interests of employees, and at least one of the members would be appointed from individuals representing the interests of employers.
Members of the Panel would serve without compensation, except that members of the Panel who are private citizens of the United States would be reimbursed for travel costs.
The Panel would be supported by a Staff Director and necessary staff and would be located in space secured through the Architect of the Capitol.
The Panel would make its report, acceptable to sixof its members -- including the agreement of both Co-Chairs -- to the President, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the House Committee on Ways and Means no later than February 1, 1999. The bill would include a Sense of the Congress that, pending the report of the Panel, the Federal unified budget surplus should be dedicated to reducing the Federal debt held by the public, increasing the retirement income security of individuals, and insuring the solvency of the social security system.
The Panel would terminate on March 31, 1999. Funds, not to exceed $2 million, would be authorized to be appropriated from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of this title.