William M. Thomas: “I want to express my support for the new provisions in H.R. 4277. The bill will stop drug addicts and alcoholics from…”

“I want to express my support for the new provisions in H.R. 4277. The bill will stop drug addicts and alcoholics from abusing the Social Security disability and Supplementary Security income programs. This legislation is important to my district and to the country. People have been outraged to find that addicts who were supposed to be getting treatment to end their addiction were able to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize their habits. After reports of addicts being arrested with literally thousands of dollars of Social Security benefits in their possession began appearing in local newspapers, I met with government officials and others to seek new ways to prevent addicts from using Social Security benefits to feed their habits. I introduced a bill, H.R. 1712, in light of the suggestions I received and I am pleased to say that H.R. 4277 includes several of the important changes I recommended. H.R. 4277 cracks down on addicts who skip treatment, following my proposal's suggestion that increasing penalties be used to discourage addicts from thinking they can keep using drugs when they are supposed to be in treatment seeking a cure.”