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Report to the Congress of the United States-Significant Aspects of the
Railroad Retirement Board, by the Comptroller General of the United
States__

616

AMENDING THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT OF 1937

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1957

UNITED STATES SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON RAILROAD RETIREMENT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE,
Washington, D. C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:15 a. m., in the Old Supreme Court Chamber, room P-63, the Capitol, Senator Wayne Morse, chairman of the subcommittee, presiding.

Present: Senators Morse (presiding), Thurmond, and Cooper. Also present: Senator Barrett.

Committee staff members present: Stewart E. McClure, chief clerk; Roy E. James, assistant chief clerk; John S. Forsythe, general counsel; Michael J. Bernstein, professional staff member; and Merton C. Bernstein, special counsel to the Subcommittee on Railroad Retire

ment.

Senator MORSE. The hearing will come to order.

These hearings are on S. 360, introduced by Senator Barrett: S. 954, introduced by Senator Langer, for himself and Senator Martin of Iowa; and S. 1313, introduced by me, for myself and Senators Murray, Neely, Kennedy, Neuberger, Cooper, Beall, Young, Hill, Hennings, Barrett, McNamara, Magnuson, Humphrey, and Ives.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroad Retirement, it shall be my policy to consider as expeditiously as possible the bills pending before us. However, it is both necessary and desirable to assure that all interested parties have the opportunity to present their points of view and supporting data.

In introducing S. 1313 on February 20, I noted that the last Congress did not deal fully with the subject of railroad retirement and should move quickly to that unfinished task. When this committee reported the 10 percent across-the-board increase, it pledged itself to such action in its report, at least to the extent of enacting the necessary financing arrangements. That pledge became the promise of Congress when it enacted the measure on the basis of the report submitted in the last session.

We also have before us the proposals for improving railroad retirement and unemployment insurance benefits. They will receive, I am sure, the sober and unbiased study of the subcommittee.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that the subcommittee will have the services of Senator Cooper, who chaired this subcommittee in the 83d Congress. As ranking minority member, we shall all look to him for guidance and the benefit of his experience.

I am delighted also to have our colleague, the Senator from South Carolina, Senator Thurmond.

1

I am glad to be back myself to continue the work in which I participated, under the leadership of Senator Douglas, on the Joint Committee on Railroad Retirement in the 82d Congress. Considerable progress has been made since that time, but changing situations bring new problems, and it is our job to meet them as best we can.

For the purposes of the record there will be inserted at this point the text of S. 360 and the analysis of the Railroad Retirement Board on measures pending before this subcommittee.

(S. 360 and the analysis of pending bills follow :)

[S. 360, 85th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To amend section 2 (d) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 so as to increase the maximum amount which a recipient of disability benefits under such Act may receive as earnings from employment or self-employment

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second paragraph of section 2 (d) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, as amended, is amended by striking out "$100" and inserting in lieu thereof "$200”.

SEC. 2. The amendment made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month which begins after the date of enactment of this Act.

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