From: Kelly Pierce 
Subject: Senator McCain introduces S. 375
 
  Hon. John McCain,
  U.S. Senate,
  Washington, DC.
 
    Dear Senator McCain: I am writing to express our strong support for your
  bill to restore the linkage of earnings limits under the Social Security 
ct
  which apply to age 65 retirees and blind people of any age. The position of
  the National Federation of the Blind on this matter is best expressed in a
  resolution (copy attached) which was unanimously adopted at our 1996 
National
  Convention.
 
    Your leadership on behalf of beneficiaries who want to contribute to
  society by working has earned our utmost respect. The Social Security
  earnings limit, presently at $12,000 annually, is the greatest barrier to
  self-support for blind people. In fact, I would say that the single factor 
of
  the earnings limit is more destructive to the self-support efforts of blind
  people than any other social condition.
 
    By raising the earnings exemption threshold for blind people to $30,000
  beginning in 2002, your bill would substantially remove any disincentive to
  work for blind people. For that reason, we applaud your efforts and pledge
  our full support.
 
    Although I think that restoring the linkage is all right for the present, 
I
  believe that congress should totally eliminate the earnings limit and place
  us in the same classification as those 70 and over, this would not only
  provide a significant work incentive, but would also eliminate the 
cumbersome
  process of reporting both our earnings and impairment related work related
  expenses now required under the law. This has caused problems because of 
he
  confusion among Social Security Administration employees some of whom are
  unaware of the special provisions for blind persons.
 
    I personally have had my earnings continuously started and stopped since
  1991 not because of anything I have done that disqualifies me from 
eceiving
  them, but due to the confusion of S.S.A. personnel. I feel that classifying
  blind persons the same as those 70 and over would ultimately provide an 
ven
  better work incentive than the restoration of the linkage.
 
    Thank you for responding to the need.
 
        Very truly yours,
                                                                Harvey Heagy.
 
----------------------------------------
Text Inserted by MCCAIN (R-AZ) on S. 375 [CR page S-1749, 40 lines]
 
      Connecticut Community Advocates, Specialized Educational Services,
                                            Westbrook, CT, February 21, 1997.
 
  Hon. John McCain,
  U.S. Senate,
  Washington, DC.
  Attention: Sonya Sotak
 
    Dear Senator McCain: As a member of the CT. C.A.S.E.S., I have counseled
  many blind individuals who want to work. I have compared their potential
  entry level salary to their Social Security benefits. Too often, these 
ork-
  bound blind citizens realize that after taxes and work expenses, their new
  job will not replace or equal their lost disability benefits. Few blind
  people can afford to sacrifice income, and they must remain idle in order 
o
  receive a guaranteed monthly check. The chance to work, earn, pay taxes, 
nd
  become a contributing member of our society is a valid goal for all
  Americans; but with the existing law under title II of the Social Security
  Act, it is an unobtainable goal for blind people.
 
    However, Senator McCain, your leadership and foresight in introducing a
  bill to restore the linkage of earnings limits under the Social Security 
ct
  for seniors and the blind will enable both groups to work. In addition, 
hey
  will be able to join the work-force without fear. Your bill will restore
  fairness, equity, and hope for the working age blind person. The blind want
  to work and with your bill they will work. The staff of CT. C.A.S.E.S. and
  clients would like to convey our strong support and appreciation for your
  bill to restore the linkage of earnings limit under the Social Security Act
  which applies to retirees and blind people of any age.
 
    I know from personal experience, just how strict the earnings limit is 
or
  blind people who attempt to work. My earnings exceeded the exempt amount 
nd
  the entire sum paid to the primary beneficiary, myself, and my dependents 
was
  abruptly withdrawn. After subtracting the travel expenses etcetera, from 
he
  salary I obtained from being employed, it was quite evident that my real
  earnings were much less than my monthly disability benefits. At present 
any
  blind people will lose financially by going to work but with the enactment 
of
  your bill, restoring the linkage, they will not lose. These blind people 
will
  become part of the working force. They will pay taxes. They will become 
fully
  integrated and truly achieve first class status as working Americans.
 
                                                         Paula A. Krauss,
                                                      Director CT. C.A.S.E.S.
 
                                   ----------
 
 
----------------------------------------
Text Inserted by MCCAIN (R-AZ) on S. 375 [CR page S-1749, 27 lines]
 
                                        National Federation of the Blind,
                                            Baltimore, MD, February 12, 1997.
 
  Hon. John McCain,
  U.S. Senate,
  Washington, DC.
 
    Dear Senator McCain: I am writing to express our strong support for your
  bill to restore the linkage of earnings limits under the Social Security 
ct
  which apply to age 65 retirees and blind people of any age. The position of
  the National Federation of the Blind on this matter is best expressed in a
  resolution (copy attached) which was unanimously adopted at our 1996 
National
  Convention.
 
    Your leadership on behalf of beneficiaries who want to contribute to
  society by working has earned our utmost respect. The Social Security
  earnings limit, presently at $12,000 annually, is the greatest barrier to
  self-support for blind people. In fact, I would say that the single factor 
of
  the earnings limit is more destructive to the self-support efforts of blind
  people than any other social condition.
 
    By raising the earnings exemption threshold for blind people to $30,000
  beginning in 2002, your bill would substantially remove any disincentive to
  work for blind people. For that reason, we applaud your efforts and pledge
  our full support.
 
    Thank you for responding to the need.
 
        Very truly yours,
                                                        James Gashel,
                                        Director of Governmental Affairs,
                                            National Federation of the Blind.
 
 
----------------------------------------
Remarks by DODD (D-CT) on S. 375: Social Security Act, Amendment
         [CR page S-1749, 49 lines]
 
                  Attributed to DODD (D-CT)
    Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise with my dear friend and colleague, 
enator
  McCain, to introduce legislation of vital importance to Americans who 
appen
  to be blind. Its purpose is simply to restore the Social Security earnings
  limitation for the blind to the same level as that for America's senior
  citizens.
 
    Mr. President, the English poet John Milton once said that "To be blind 
s
  not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable."
 
    Over the past 20 years, blind Americans have made amazing progress in
  shouldering those difficult burdens. Today, millions of blind Americans 
ave
  achieved more independent and rewarding lives for themselves.
 
    The legislation that we introduce today will ensure that this progress
  continues by restoring an important work incentive for close to 150,000 
blind
  Americans. This bill would reestablish the identical earnings exemption
  threshold for blind and senior citizen beneficiaries under the Social
  Security Act, which had been the law from 1977 until just last year.
 
    Prior to 1977, blind people were overwhelmingly dependent on disability
  benefits. What's worse, many of them could not afford to work without 
risking
  the loss of the basic security that these benefits provided.
 
    However, in that year, we raised the earnings exemption for the blind to
  the same level as retirees--from $500 to $940 a month. That modest step
  encouraged millions of blind Americans to work by allowing them to keep 
ore
  of what they earned.
 
    Unfortunately, last year, when the Congress raised the earnings limit for
  seniors, it failed to extend the same benefits to the blind.
 
    The impact of this unfortunate step has been significant. As the law now
  stands, a senior citizen may earn $13,500 in 1997 and $30,000 by the year
  2002 without any reduction of benefits. A blind person, on the other hand,
  may only earn $12,000 today, and only $14,400 in 2002. While this provides
  terrific encouragement for seniors to work, it reenshrines into law the
  disincentive for blind people that existed before 1977.
 
    There are approximately 1.1 million people in the United States who are
  blind under the Social Security definition. Of those, 713,000 of the 1.1
  million are 65 or older, and they are considered retirees, not blind 
eople.
 
    But there are roughly 387,000 people who are blind, and under retirement
  age, who have been adversely affected by the severed link between retirees
  and the blind. Of the 332,000 blind people who are 20 or older, more than 
0
  percent are unemployed. We must not make their efforts to find meaningful 
and
  rewarding work more difficult. Rather, we should encourage blind Americans 
in
  their noble endeavors. Our legislation would do just that by raising the
  earnings limit and linking it once again to the senior citizens exempt
  account.
 
    In closing, Mr. President, allow me to commend Senator McCain for his
  leadership here. He has once again demonstrated his commitment to ensuring
  that all Americans have a fair and equal opportunity to enjoy the fruits of
  their labors and the blessings of our great Nation. I urge our colleagues 
o
  join us in supporting this legislation.
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