SR0476 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0476 LRB093 21627 BDD 49125 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Social Security Fairness Act of 2003 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives on February 5, 2003 as H.R. 594 and into the U.S. Senate on February 11, 2003 as S. 439; and

WHEREAS, The Social Security Fairness Act of 2003 amends title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision; and

WHEREAS, The Government Pension Offset was enacted in 1977 and the Windfall Elimination Provision was enacted in 1983; and

WHEREAS, The majority of public employees affected by the Government Pension Offset lost their entire spousal benefit despite the fact that their spouses paid Social Security contributions for many years; and

WHEREAS, An affected public employee loses an average of $3,000 per year because of the Government Pension Offset; and

WHEREAS, The Windfall Elimination Provision causes public employees to lose up to 60% of the benefits that they earned; and

WHEREAS, According to the Social Security Administration's actuaries, the long-term cost of eliminating both of these provisions is negligible while the loss of income to affected employees caused by these provisions forces some civil servants into poverty; and

WHEREAS, These provisions discriminate against teachers, police, firefighters, social workers, and other civil servants; and

WHEREAS, The State and national shortage of teachers, police officers, and firefighters is exacerbated by these provisions because they discourage people from entering and staying in these professions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the U.S. Congress to pass the Social Security Fairness Act of 2003 or other legislation that eliminates both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.