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Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the Congress and the President on the recent enactment of S. 2420, the bill to provide long-term healthcare insurance for federal employees. As the nation's largest employer, we have set an example for the private sector in establishing a long-term care insurance program for federal workers and retirees. At least thirteen million people are expected to benefit from this far-sighted effort, but there is more work to be done on those issues affecting current and former Federal employees. Today, I wish to highlight three proposals on which I have received much correspondence from my constituents: repeal of the Government Pension Offset, GPO, elimination of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, WEP; and, health insurance premium conversion availability.
I am a cosponsor of S. 717, Senator MIKULSKI's proposal to reform the GPO. Additionally, I am a supporter of initiatives in the House of Representatives to eliminate the WEP. Both pieces of legislation alleviate current laws that block Federal annuitants and their spouses from collecting full Social Security benefits. Because of the current budget rules requiring the offsetting of spending cuts or tax increases, passage of these reforms have been complicated.
We should not penalize people who have worked hard and contributed to the country simply because they worked for the Federal government and receive a Federal pension. This Senate must consider these bills a priority, and seriously review the offsets necessary to achieve these essential and fair changes. I believe that we need to enforce a budget discipline which will balance the budget without borrowing payroll tax dollars from the Social Security trust fund and any other federal trust funds. However, now that the budget is balanced, we should first restore the change that helped bring us toward fiscal soundness.
Finally, I wish to address the availability of health insurance premium conversion arrangements. As my colleagues may be aware, no Senate legislation has been introduced, but H.R. 4277 has been introduced in the House. Under the provisions of this bill, the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, would be directed to take necessary measures to ensure that enrollees have the option to paying charges out of pre-tax earnings. This would ensure equal premium tax treatment for federal workers and retirees. I urge my House and Senate colleagues to provide full consideration to this legislation, and bring Federal employees and retirees pay and benefit equity and fairness.
Mr. President, these are just three issues of concern to me and my constituents. While enactment of the long-term care bill was a great step forward, I must reiterate my call for more work to be done. I am hopeful that we may make a serious effort on this legislation on the few remaining days of the 106th Congress. These concerns will not go away, and I know we will surely be hearing about the GPO, WEP, and premium conversion in the next Congress is we do not take action this year.
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