Statement of the Hon. Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

I would like to thank Chairman Shaw and Ranking Member Matsui for holding this hearing to address Social Security, an issue of great significance to our nation. With the impending retirement of the Baby Boom generation, projected increases in life expectancy and the expected depletion of the Social Security trust fund by 2038, it has become critically important to reform Social Security. As you look at ways of extending the programs solvency and making it fairer, I strongly urge you to address the harsh effects of the Social Security offsets. More specifically, the Congress must take action to rectify the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), both of which have a substantial impact on the backbone of America, its public servants.

Daily, I receive letters from my constituents in which they express their outraged at how these provisions have unfairly stripped them of their benefits. These offsets affect nearly 900,000 workers nationwide, of which as many as 80,000 are Texas residents. They are our teachers, school cafeteria workers, police officers and civil servants. Recognizing that the imposition of GPO and WEP can make the difference between self-sufficiency and poverty, I have cosponsored bipartisan legislation to reform the offsets. If enacted H.R. 664, which has 285 cosponsors, is expected to result in 50% of recipients now affected by the GPO having their benefits increased, including 29% for whom the offset would be removed completely. For the record, legislation is pending before this committee to eliminate the offsets in their entirety. H.R. 2638, deserves your full consideration.

Since its inception, Social Security has provided a "safety net" for American workers and their spouses in their older age and remains the foundation for retirement income in America today. It is essential that Social Security be reformed to ensure that all workers regardless of whether they spent part or all of their careers in the public sector, receive the benefit they deserve.

As the Congress begins to address the various components of Social Security reform and there are many. I believe it is imperative that we consider the negative effects of the GPO and WEP on public employees and school teachers as part of any such reform. Thank you again, Chairman Shaw and Ranking Member Matsui for holding this hearing and setting us on the path to improving Social Security.