HBA-TBM H.C.R. 186 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 186
By: Berman
Pensions & Investments
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Social security is the foundation for retirement income for millions of
American workers and their families. Two-thirds of older Americans rely on
social security for 50 percent or more of their total income, and 30
percent rely on it for 90 percent or more.  Under current federal law, the
Government Pension Offset (GPO), a social security provision enacted in
1977, may unfairly penalize recipients of public pensions. The GPO has the
effect of reducing or eliminating the social security benefits for spouses,
widows, or widowers who also receive a pension based on their own work for
federal, state, or local government entities not covered by social
security.  As many as 266,000 low-income and middle-income women are
affected by the GPO.  While the GPO was intended to curtail the payment of
windfall benefits to highlypaid government employees, it has resulted in
unintended consequences for low-income public service employees.  House
Concurrent Resolution 186 urges the United States Congress to repeal the
GPO.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution
does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Concurrent Resolution 186 urges the Congress of the United States to
repeal the Government Pension Offset provision of the Social Security Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

The 91st day after adjournment.