Cliff Stearns: “Mr. Speaker, back in the 1930s the reason for starting the earnings test the Democrats said it was necessary to allow…”

“Mr. Speaker, back in the 1930s the reason for starting the earnings test the Democrats said it was necessary to allow younger workers to work. Today what we have is a shortage of qualified and experienced workers, so it is very appropriate that we are getting around to enacting this legislation. I might point out I am glad to see the minority party supports this piece of legislation. For almost 4 decades the Democratic party did not seem to want to initiate and to pass this legislation; and the chairman here, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), and others on this side, worked so hard to try and pass this. So this is a great day, to see the folks on the other side of the aisle say let's pass it by unanimous agreement. There is no good reason, of course. There is no longer a reason for this antiquated law to be on the books. It is discriminatory. So I support the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act. I am an original cosponsor of it. It is a law we have to be very joyful this afternoon for, because it is a law that is needed.”